01/03/2026
‘Our little boy was born with half a heart but is full of life and love’ ❤️
When Lizz’s son Tobias was born with a complex heart condition, life changed overnight. But thanks to Claire House Children’s Hospice, the family found comfort, support and joy.
“Tobias is a cheeky and mischievous little boy who’s absolutely bursting with love. He’s wild!” laughs mum Lizz.
“He loves nursery and all his friends, eating Chinese food and playing cars with his big sister, Eli-Vieve. And he’s obsessed with women; he likes to hold their hand and flirt. And he absolutely loves coming to Claire House. He’s our little heart warrior!”
To most people, Tobias just looks like any other three-year-old, full of energy, always on the go, and never far from a toy car.
But what people can’t see is he was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), which is a rare condition where only one side of his heart works in the way it should and is much smaller than usual. It means Tobias can tire easily, turn blue and needs multiple surgeries.
“Everything was normal for the first 12 hours,” explains Lizz. “At his 24-hour checks, doctors detected a possible heart murmur and found 44% oxygen levels, which meant he was in heart failure. He was turning blue and in distress, so they rushed him to resus, intubated him, and gave medication to keep him alive.”
The next day he was taken from Ormskirk Hospital to the intensive care unit at Alder Hey, which is where Lizz heard about Claire House. It marked the beginning of a journey that would change everything.
Lizz says: “When he was just a couple of days old, two ladies from the hospice introduced themselves and asked if we’d like some support with Tobias.
“They have loads of different activities for kids and it's just a big support network. It’s very settling to know he's around people who can care for him and understand.”
For Lizz, 35, and her youth worker husband Steven, 41, Claire House is more than somewhere where kids can play. It’s a lifeline.
Tobias attends Claire House Liverpool in West Derby once a month for a four-hour day care session, which gives busy mum-of-two Lizz a much-needed break.
For Tobias, it’s a chance to be independent, as much as a three-year-old can be. And he looks forward to it, sitting excitedly by the window waiting for the hospice’s car to arrive.
“He gets picked up and made a fuss of,” Lizz says. “He talks about it for days after he’s been. He loves it!”
The family also visit Claire House’s Wirral hospice for play sessions and hydrotherapy.
“We can’t take Tobias to a normal pool because it’s too cold and he’d go blue,” Lizz explains. “But in the hydrotherapy pool, we can all go in together for a family swim. It’s warm, safe and comforting. It’s something we never imagined we’d be able to do.
“We treasure our time together at Claire House.”
Getting to the Wirral hospice isn’t always straightforward for the family, which is why having the West Derby site so close to home makes such a difference.
There are gardens, a bright day care room with space to play, and the promise of more accessible 24/7 care in the future.
“It warms my heart so much to see how happy Tobias is when he’s at Claire House Liverpool.
“It’s just 15 minutes away for us. So, it would make everything easier if we had the same facilities in Liverpool as on the Wirral,” explains Lizz from Kirkby. “More families like ours could get the support they need.
“If I didn’t drive, I don’t think we’d be able to get to the Wirral site. Taking Tobias on the bus is risky as he could pick up an infection.
The support doesn’t stop there. Claire House offers help for siblings and parents too.
“It’s sweet and nice,” says Tobias’s sister Eli-Vieve, seven. “Claire House is comfortable, warm, and the people are thoughtful and kind.”
Lizz agrees. “The girls are only a message away. They’ve been with us through hospital stays, helped us make keepsakes, and given us memories we’ll treasure forever.
“One of my favourite moments was Disney Day in the garden in Liverpool. There were lots of other children and families there, all happy, all supported. That day was magic!
“I can’t imagine the journey without Claire House. We’d be lost. They’ve given us opportunities we never thought we’d have. Time, memories, support. It means everything.”
Lizz wants to make sure other families know about Claire House – a special place families can make memories and feel truly supported.
“Reach out. Get involved. It’s incredible. And to everyone who supports Claire House, thank you! You’re giving us precious moments we’ll never forget.”
Tobias has already had two major operations and is due for another. Life is unpredictable. But at Claire House Liverpool, he’s a little boy who loves whizzing around in the electric ride-on car or racing cars across the floor.
