THE tragic death of their baby son has prompted a Bournemouth couple to raise money for the hospital that cared for him.

Seth Staples was just 24 days old when he passed away in December due to a massive bleed on his brain.

His parents, Charlie and Pete, said they will never forget the high quality care they received at Southampton Hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Now they plan to take the plunge with a charity skydive to raise thousands of pounds for the Friends of PICU.

“It was a terrible time but we will always remember how fantastic the staff were at Southampton,” said Charlie, of East Way, Bournemouth. “They explained everything and communicated with us every step of the way – they were so caring and dedicated.”

Charlie, 31, and her 32-year-old husband, Pete, a builder’s merchant’s manager, already have at least £2,000 in sponsorship but hope to raise a lot more by the time they complete the challenge on August 7.

“I am quite excited about it at the moment but I’m not sure I’ll feel the same way on the day,” said Charlie.

She said Seth became ill when he was five days old and spent nine days in PICU before being taken to Naomi House, a children’s hospice.

A moving letter, written as if it was from Seth, was read out at his funeral, and the couple have allowed us to reproduce.


Hi, my name is Seth and I would like to tell you a little bit about my short but amazing life.

I was born on Friday December 5, 2008 at 8.02pm to my mummy Charlie and my daddy Pete. I weighed 8lb 14.5 oz. It was a difficult day for Mummy but she was reassured that Daddy was with her all day and that grandy Steve was also there to hold her hand.

I left Poole Hospital on Sunday December 7 and went with Mummy to stay at Bournemouth Hospital for a couple of days so that I could learn how to feed properly.

On Tuesday December 9 my Mummy and Daddy took me home. They were both very excited and so was I as I got to meet Dolly, Dave and Murphy. We were a little family for that one night and Mummy and Daddy will cherish those memories of my being at home forever, including making the classic mistake of changing my nappy on their bed!

On Wednesday December 10 I started to get poorly. Mummy and I were taken to Poole Hospital in an ambulance whilst Daddy followed behind in the car. I was very ill once I got to the hospital and was kept in an incubator overnight.

On Thursday I went for a CT and MRI scan where it was discovered that I had a blood clot and a massive bleed on my brain. I also had an EEG, which monitors my brain activity. It was then decided that I would be transferred to Southampton Hospital so that I could have some special medicine to shrink the clot.

Once I got to the hospital I was met by lots of very important people, including a professor and a neurosurgeon. They wanted to give me the best chance possible so that night whilst Mummy and Daddy, Auntie Katie and Auntie Vicky waited outside I had brain surgery.

I made my Mummy and Daddy very proud that I could survive such a big operation when I was only six days old, but that didn’t take away the fact that I was very poorly indeed. I was then transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) where I spent the next nine days. Mummy and Daddy were able to stay in the hospital so they were never far away from me.

During this time I was kept on a ventilator to help me breathe, I was given a variety of drugs to help me, including those to shrink the clot, some to try and stop me fitting and pain relief. I had two more MRI scans as well as another EEG...

After all the tests were done Mummy and Daddy sat down with the consultants and neurosurgeon and were told that there was nothing else that could be done for me. When I developed the blood clot it was in the main vein that leads to my brain.

The bleed that had occurred had caused massive damage to the most important part of my brain which meant that I wouldn’t be able to survive. The decision was made to switch of my ventilator.

On Thursday December 18 all my family came to say goodbye. Mummy and Daddy were with me when the ventilator was switched off. The doctors thought that I would pass away quite quickly but I’m stubborn like my Mum and Dad and didn’t want to go just yet.

On Friday December 19 we went to stay at Naomi House Hospice in Sutton Scotney. Mummy and Daddy were able to come and stay, too, and we were all looked after together as a family to ensure that my passing was a smooth as possible.

On Monday December 22 we had a fantastic memory-making day where Mummy and Daddy were able to take prints and casts of my hands and feet. We all got pretty messy with the plaster and the paints, but it was a happy day and one which was filled with laughter. These can then be made into bronze casts and Mummy, Daddy and the family will always have something to remember me by.

Christmas Day was spent with Mummy and Daddy at the hospice, just the three of us together as a little family.

On Monday December 29 I was finally ready to leave on my next amazing journey. I chose this day as it’s Auntie Katie’s birthday and I felt this was really special. It was a very peaceful passing. Mummy and Daddy were with me. I was in Mummy’s arms when I left this world.

...I’m off now on my last journey but before I go, I would like to thank my Mummy and Daddy for giving me life – be it a short one – and for having the opportunity to touch so many people lives and bringing so much joy to them both.

I love you both very much and know that your love f or me will continue in your hearts forever.

Good night, Love Seth x