Parents of a baby boy born at 11 minutes past 11 on the morning of 11/11/11 say they want his special presence to live on by helping other critically ill children.
At just 1lb and 5oz, Mani Ian Reid was born 15 weeks premature with a cleft lip palate and spent the first three months of his life on a ventilator and in an incubator.
Trishna and Stuart Reid, of White Horse Close, Hockliffe, watched on as their son went through a life threatening bowel operation, lung problems and a serious infection.
As the weeks and months passed by, Mani became stronger each day and puzzled doctors with his determination to survive against all the odds.
But after spending three precious weeks at home over Christmas, Mani was suddenly rushed to hospital in mid-January with a bout of swine flu, which caused extensive damage to his lungs and left the 15-month-old unable to fight any more.
Trishna said: “From the word go we soon realised Mani was a fighter and actually we took it for granted that he was going to come out the other side of all the operations and illnesses.
“When that didn’t happen it shocked us because it was swine flu and I don’t think we ever thought we wouldn’t see him again.”
Stuart added: “I think there was always a feeling with Mani that because of when he was born, it was a spooky kind of sign, and I thought he’ll be all right. It is a very special number.
Trishna said: “With him going on the 11th and arriving on the 11th, it is our number. 11 is so frequent in our lives; his presence is with us every single day.
“I feel like I haven’t said goodbye to him yet. I know I have because he isn’t physically here, but he is a part of us and until the day I die I will make sure he is a part of our life, for forever and a day. There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t think or speak of him.”
After Mani passed away on February 11, Trishna and Stuart decided to use their grief as drive to start up Mani’s Helping Hands, a charity that will help various groups who support children with complex needs and their parents, including SSNAP (Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents), and the Sick Children’s Trust.
Since becoming a registered charity in April, the couple have seen friends and family help raise £7,000 in Mani’s name, but are hopeful they will go above and beyond £10,000 after they count up the funds raised from Sunday’s event.
Mani’s Football Allstars Family Fun Day kicked-off at Stanbridge and Tilsworth community hall with a seven-a-side football tournament where everyone who had bought kit had a number 11 on their shirt.
To donate visit Mani’s Helping Hands on Facebook or www.mycharitypage.com/manireid