16/7/2008Parents pay respects to tragic daughter with park memorial
Parents Margaret and James Wood with little Billiejo
A MEMORIAL tree has been planted by family and friends as a tribute to a brave youngster who died from cerebral palsy.
Generous donations from well-wishers made the dream come true for the parents of Billiejo Wood, who lost her fight for life when she was just four.
Now they have a special place to remember their daughter after hundreds of pounds was raised through a Kids with Special Needs charity night.
A silverbirch tree and a
special plaque were bought and Billiejo’s parents Margaret and James Wood, from Baltic Street, Bridgeton, who were joined by their five other children and friends at a special ceremony in Tollcross Park.
The tree was planted close to the Winter Gardens and the plaque carried the inscription to a “special little angel.”
Mum Margaret, 42, said: “It was a day mixed with sadness and happiness.
“We will always miss Billiejo, but now we have a place where we can go and remember her on her birthdays and on the anniversary of her death.
“The tree is a lovely idea and will be somewhere our kids and others can play.”
The youngster lost her battle with cerebral palsy in September 2005, days before her fifth birthday but she touched the hearts of her family and carers during her life.
She attended Kids with Special Needs, a charity run from Bridgeton’s Queen Mary Street nursery, and fundraiser Maureen Morrison was determined to create some sort of memorial to the little girl.
Maureen, who organised the fundraising night in May, said: “Billiejo was a very special
little girl. We raised enough money for a tree and a plaque and also sent a donation to Yorkhill hospital, where Billiejo was treated.
“For anyone who knew her it will always be a place to visit and we can’t thank those who helped towards the fundraising enough.”
Money raised also went towards giving a five-year-old girl who attend the same group the chance of a break with her grandparents next month.
Billiejo became ill as a baby and was admitted to hospital in May 2001 after suffering from gastroenteritis.
She developed another two infections that affected oxygen supply to her brain. It resulted in severe brain damage, which left her with cerebral palsy.
Billiejo’s leaves sisters JamieLee, 4, and Charley, 2, as well as brothers Christopher, 11, Alexander, 8, and James, 17 months.
Generous donations from well-wishers made the dream come true for the parents of Billiejo Wood, who lost her fight for life when she was just four.
Now they have a special place to remember their daughter after hundreds of pounds was raised through a Kids with Special Needs charity night.
A silverbirch tree and a
special plaque were bought and Billiejo’s parents Margaret and James Wood, from Baltic Street, Bridgeton, who were joined by their five other children and friends at a special ceremony in Tollcross Park.
The tree was planted close to the Winter Gardens and the plaque carried the inscription to a “special little angel.”
Mum Margaret, 42, said: “It was a day mixed with sadness and happiness.
“We will always miss Billiejo, but now we have a place where we can go and remember her on her birthdays and on the anniversary of her death.
“The tree is a lovely idea and will be somewhere our kids and others can play.”
The youngster lost her battle with cerebral palsy in September 2005, days before her fifth birthday but she touched the hearts of her family and carers during her life.
She attended Kids with Special Needs, a charity run from Bridgeton’s Queen Mary Street nursery, and fundraiser Maureen Morrison was determined to create some sort of memorial to the little girl.
Maureen, who organised the fundraising night in May, said: “Billiejo was a very special
little girl. We raised enough money for a tree and a plaque and also sent a donation to Yorkhill hospital, where Billiejo was treated.
“For anyone who knew her it will always be a place to visit and we can’t thank those who helped towards the fundraising enough.”
Money raised also went towards giving a five-year-old girl who attend the same group the chance of a break with her grandparents next month.
Billiejo became ill as a baby and was admitted to hospital in May 2001 after suffering from gastroenteritis.
She developed another two infections that affected oxygen supply to her brain. It resulted in severe brain damage, which left her with cerebral palsy.
Billiejo’s leaves sisters JamieLee, 4, and Charley, 2, as well as brothers Christopher, 11, Alexander, 8, and James, 17 months.