In the British Byrne family, a girl was born eight years ago who suffered from cerebral damage. It was a condition that led to a slow deterioration of her brain. There have been only seventeen cases of this disorder recorded worldwide.
The girl, Olivia, only lived for eight months. Then the couple gave birth to a healthy boy whom they named Harry. Little Harry was five years old when his younger brother was born.
Unfortunately, little Reuben also suffered from the same condition as his older sister. Additionally, the boy was born with a condition called Hirschsprung, which meant his intestines did not contract and relax as they should.
Because of this, the baby couldn’t be fed orally and had a feeding tube. Doctors told the parents that their son would not live past his first birthday.
It’s worth noting that the hero of our story is the older brother of little Reuben, Harry. The boy was infinitely loving and kind to his brother. He was always by the baby’s side and would call his mother when his brother had a crisis.
The six-year-old boy would administer oxygen to Reuben, hold his hand, and stroke his head.
“It broke my heart to see that,” said Sophie, the boys’ mother.
Reuben began receiving palliative care at Julia’s House hospice. Due to the child’s medical needs, no one else could care for him except a nurse or qualified caregiver.
The parents were reassured that their son was in good hands. And the loving and caring boy, Harry, spent hours with his brother.
The six-year-old brother’s act of kindness and altruism impressed the hospice workers and all those who learned about his selfless behavior.
The boy believed that his presence would help his little brother, and he did everything in his power to be with him, support him, and cuddle him.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Harry walked tens of kilometers to reach his brother. He even raised funds, collecting 8000 euros.
Little Reuben sadly left this world at home before Christmas 2021, at the age of two, but the touching story of the two brothers will never be forgotten.
