Family First Jersey

19/12/2025

"Their help has meant we can focus on our daughter instead of the stress around her care…
that has made all the difference.”

When Dayna and little Miracle first came to us, they were facing a reality no new parent expects, their daughter had been born with missing thumbs and severe radial club hand,

Their only path forward meant years of off-island surgeries in the UK.

The medical challenges alone were daunting but the logistics, costs, and emotional toll were just as heavy. That’s where we stepped in.

We helped this family organize travel and accommodation.
We sourced the funding for the extra expenses that stack up faster than anyone talks about.
And most importantly, we stayed with them through every stage of uncertainty, offering support that stretched far beyond the financial.

For three years now, we’ve been able to support them, and we’ll continue to be there for Miracle and her family as she faces more specialized treatments ahead.

Our goal is to remove as much of the burden as we can so families can focus on their child, not the stress surrounding their care. Hearing what this support meant to this family is exactly why we do what we do.

If you’d like to help us continue providing support for families like Miracle’s, your donation would make a huge difference.

You can support us here | https://jerseygiving.je/donate/family-first-jersey

Special thank you to The Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation and our other charity partners for their incredible financial contributions to the families supported by Family First. Your support means everything.

17/12/2025

As we reflect on the year, we’re incredibly grateful for the support shown to Family First by everyone.

Every donation, message, share, and act of kindness helps us continue supporting families when they need us most. Thank you for being part of our journey — we couldn’t do it without you ❤️

15/12/2025

A huge thank you to the Island Walk Jersey for funding our new Emotional Support Library. 💛📚

These specially chosen books provide guidance and comfort to the whole family, from supporting siblings with a baby in the Neonatal Unit, to helping children and parents navigate grief and bereavement.

We now also have beautiful stickers and bookmarks to go alongside the books, making them an extra special gift for families when their child is in hospital or has been diagnosed with an illness.

This is such a meaningful addition to the support we offer, and we are so grateful to the Island Walk for making it possible. Thank you for your continued support. 💛✨

12/12/2025

“By having the help from Family First we have so much pressure lifted from us as a family.”

When the Morgan family first learned about their son’s condition, life quickly became a cycle of flights to Oxford, appointments, tests, and tough financial choices.

For a full year, they tried to carry this strain alone.

Then they found us.

We sat down together, talked through their son’s ongoing medical needs, and figured out how we could help lift some of the weight off their shoulders.

Thankfully we sourced funding from The Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation to cover the travel costs that were putting pressure on the family,

And just as important, we offered a place to breathe, a cuppa, a chat, and some emotional steadiness when everything felt uncertain.

Support meant their daughter could travel too, giving her the chance to understand why her brother needed to go away so often and to meet the doctors caring for him.

Their little boy had major surgery nearly a year ago, and we’re still checking in, still helping with the trips that continue.

We’re the lucky ones. Being able to stand beside families during their hardest moments is why we exist and we love to do it.

If you’d like to help us support more families like the Morgans, even a small donation can make a real difference.

You can support us here | https://jerseygiving.je/donate/family-first-jersey

Thank you so much to The Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation and our other charity partners for their incredible financial contributions to the families supported by Family First. Your support lets us continue doing what we do.

05/12/2025

“This charity are like guardian angel’s… they take financial pressure off and it’s one less stress to worry about.” - Angela Gueguen

Angela is a mum to three girls, two of them are living with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia,

This is a very rare condition that affects bone growth and causes joint pain and mobility issues.

Since they were born, her daughters have needed constant check-ups, MRIs, and surgeries across the UK.

These regular trips back and forth from Jersey can really take a toll on a family and we’re so grateful Angela got in touch with us when she did.

“Family First have been a great support not just financially but emotionally too…”

One of Angela's most treasured memories came right after her daughter’s spinal surgery during Covid.

Because the family had been separated for so long, Family First were able to fly her husband and her other two girls over so they could be together again.

Then in May, while her youngest daughter was still recovering from knee surgery, Angela became ill herself.

She reached out to us and we arranged and paid for her mum to fly over the same day so Angela could get some much needed rest.

These are the moments that can change everything for families.

And this is the impact donors make possible.

We’d like to take a moment to thank you to The Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation for their incredible financial contributions to Family First. Your support means the world to us and our families.

28/11/2025

“I was diagnosed with Placenta Accreta on a routine pregnancy scan…
I underwent an 8 hour operation” - Lauren Farrelly

One pregnancy scan changed Lauren's entire world.

Placenta Accreta is a rare, dangerous pregnancy complication that gave Lauren one clear instruction:
Leave home at 32 weeks pregnant and move to Southampton for treatment.

For three weeks, she lived there with her partner Dom, while her family traveled back and forth from Jersey so their 3-year-old daughter could still see her mum.

At 35 weeks, Nico was born under general anesthetic.

He was immediately rushed to neonatal intensive care, while Lauren went straight into an eight-hour operation.

They didn’t get to meet until later that night.

They were exhausted, but finally together.

After six days of recovery in Southampton, they were cleared to fly home and start their new life as a family of 4.

We’re proud to say that through every frightening moment, every long hospital hour, every unexpected cost… Family First was there.

Our Family Support Worker Jess checked in regularly.
She made sure the family could visit.
She offered emotional support, financial help, and direction when everything felt overwhelming.

As Lauren said herself:

“We would have been lost without you Jess.”

Families like this face huge emotional and financial pressure with zero warning, your support is what keeps them from facing it alone.

If you want to help more families get through their most difficult moments, you can donate to Family First here:

https://jerseygiving.je/donate/family-first-jersey

Our heartfelt thanks to the and Friends of the Jersey Neonatal Unit for their continued partnership. Your support helps ensure families receive the funding they need when it matters most.

27/11/2025

A huge thank you to Benji for choosing to fundraise for Family First through your incredible rowing event! 🚣‍♂️💙

We are so grateful that you’ve chosen to support our little charity. Your amazing efforts will help us be there for even more families when their child needs hospital treatment in the UK.

There’s still time to support Benji — details are below! 👇💛

Thank you, Benji — you’re making a real difference.

On December 12th, I will be taking on the challenge of solo rowing 100km on an indoor rowing machine - aiming for under 7 hours.

21/11/2025

“We were scared, we were overwhelmed… no matter what, there’s nothing that will prepare any parent or child through such an experience.” - Jersey Family

At only 6 weeks old this family's baby was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip bone doesn’t form correctly leading to hip pain and instability.

This family sought treatment in Jersey but when the hip still didn’t improve, they were told they’d need to travel off island to Southampton for specialist care.

What followed was months of back and forth trips to the mainland for,

Scans,
Consultations,
And eventually even surgery.

“When we found we had many more trips planned ahead of this journey, financially anyone would struggle"

They were overwhelmed. They were scared

And like any parent, they just wanted to be there for every moment of their baby’s care.

But the travel, accommodation, and time away from home quickly took its toll.

Each trip to the mainland brought new stress and worry, leaving the family drained and anxious as they faced the unknown.

That’s when they reached out to us at Family First.

We were able to support this family so both parents could stay together through every appointment, update and step of their daughter’s treatment.

From surgery to the long four month recovery afterwards, they’d be with their baby the whole time.

“I’m forever grateful for everything Sonya and everyone at Family First did for us both financially… I can’t imagine what I would’ve done without them”

This is why Family First exists, so no family faces their child’s medical journey alone.

So if your child needs medical off-island care, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

We’re here to support you through these difficult times.

A huge thank you to Jersey Children's Charity and The Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation, your continued financial support meant everything to this family.

14/11/2025

“I had to move to Southampton at 32 weeks pregnant…

Billie was born under general anaesthetic, which came with a lot of scary risks” – Chelsea Deeks

Chelsea was in her third trimester when she was suddenly diagnosed with placenta accreta,

A very serious condition that can cause complications during childbirth,

This forced her to leave Jersey, her family and friends behind in the final weeks of her pregnancy to receive specialist treatment.

Chelsea then reached out to Family First, and we were able to give her the support she needed with:

> travel expenses
> practical and emotional support throughout her stay
> additional flights and accommodation for family who visited

Thankfully, the surgery went much better than expected and little Billie was born without complications.

No family should ever have to face a situation like this alone, and we couldn’t be more grateful Chelsea reached out to us for support, when she did.

Should your child need medical off-island care, please reach out to us. We’re here to support you.

Thanks to the following charities for their financial support: Friends of Jersey Neonatal unit and Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation, we couldn’t have done it without you.

12/11/2025

We'd love to see you there, join us if you can make it 🧁☕️🧡
RSVP 07700 700056. Thank you!

05/11/2025

05/11/2025

A huge THANK YOU to Katie for choosing to fundraise for Family First while taking on the Hospice Half Marathon next year! 🏃‍♀️💪💙

Your support helps us continue to be there for families who must travel off-island for their child’s medical care — and we are so grateful for your dedication and kindness.

If you’d like to support Katie on her journey, please click the link below! 👇✨

💛 Good luck Katie — we’re cheering you on every step of the way!

https://jerseygiving.je/sponsor/activity/half-marathon-5/katie-hargreaves?fbclid=IwY2xjawN38YVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAEwAAEelwdsYVzh2wWC9sc5g1z7_ZdZBlcwLG0cnHdSaH5ExnYcILLZlwh_ILc7W5g_aem_tamjpW5LFdaYRrL89HplVw

Established in 2018, our charity provides a dedicated Family Support Service for families in Jersey whose child requires medical treatment in the UK. By supporting our service, you can make a real difference for families facing one of the most difficult times in their lives. Your donation helps us: