A family vacation in Saint Lucia turned to heartbreak for British couple Hannah and Matt Taylor-Mclean, whose seven-month-old son, Tommy, passed away following a tragic accident. In an inspiring act of gratitude and remembrance, the grieving parents have launched a fundraising campaign in their son’s memory to support the very hospital that cared for him in his final hours.
The incident occurred on April 2, when baby Tommy reportedly fell out of bed but initially showed no signs of serious injury. His condition, however, rapidly deteriorated, and he was rushed to St. Jude Hospital in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia. There, doctors discovered that Tommy had suffered a brain bleed—a condition from which he would tragically succumb.
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Tommy’s body was later repatriated to the United Kingdom, where an inquest into his death was officially opened on April 9.
Despite their immense grief, Tommy’s parents chose to channel their sorrow into a cause that could bring hope to others. Writing on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe, Hannah and Matt shared heartfelt words:
“Sadly on the first day of our family holiday in St. Lucia, our precious 7-month-old son, Tommy, passed away following a tragic accident.
He was the best little boy and brought so much joy and happiness to everyone that met him. We are totally lost without him, but take comfort in knowing the number of lives he touched in the short time he was with us.”
Moved by the compassion and dedication of the medical team at St. Jude Hospital—particularly Medical Director Dr. Adelaide Moonie—the couple resolved to raise funds for the pediatric ward, which remains under-resourced nearly two decades after a devastating fire.
“In 2009, St. Jude Hospital was devastated by a fire,” they wrote. “The fire destroyed the surgical and pediatric wards and the operating theatres. The hospital was evacuated to the George Odlum Sports Stadium where it is still currently located and is in urgent need of funding…”
The family noted that while the hospital staff showed tremendous kindness and effort, there were simply not enough resources to perform life-saving surgery on Tommy.
“Sadly, our baby boy Tommy lost his life, but we would love to try and help save other children and babies in the future, in our precious son’s honour,” they added. “He will forever live on in our hearts and minds.”
As of press time, the campaign has raised £13,920 toward its £25,000 goal from 200 individual donations.
The fundraiser stands as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring strength of compassion. Tommy’s legacy may well become a lifeline for countless children in Saint Lucia—a light of hope born from unimaginable loss.
