'Our daughter left us the gift of a little sister'

Layla spent her first and last Christmas at home last year and now her family faces the festive period without her

Layla Turnbull only lived for 15 months, but in her short life she made a big impact.

Born eight weeks early alongside her twin sister Sophia in October 2021, she spent most of her life in hospital.

The sisters should have been inseparable but while Sophia was able to leave intensive care at a week old, Layla stayed behind in hospital.

The baby was diagnosed with a rare condition called arthrogryposis. She was given a tracheostomy to help with her breathing problems but after just 16 days, she had to be put back on a ventilator.

Dad Craig said that although she was extremely sick, Layla was a content baby who loved nothing more than a cuddle and a story.

Layla had complex medical needs and died unexpectedly in February this year.

Baby Sophia left intensive care after a week, but her twin Layla spent most of her short life in hospital

"Losing your child is everybody's worst nightmare," her mum Kimberley told BBC Scotland News. "It's something you would never wish on anybody.

"Layla was just amazing and such an incredible little girl. We just miss her so so much and nothing can ever fill that gap. There will always be a massive hole.

"It is hard for us parents but there is a ripple effect too - Sophia now has to grow up without her identical twin sister."

Kimberley discovered she was expecting Keira two weeks after they lost Layla

Layla's death was just the start of a rollercoaster of emotion for the family, from Larbert, Falkirk.

Two weeks after losing Layla, Kimberley was shocked to learn she was in fact pregnant once more.

Kimberley said: "You're caught up in that initial whirlwind of the shock and disbelief of losing Layla, planning a funeral and all of that. Then add in to all the emotions there was new pregnancy emotions.

"Layla had left us behind a little gift."

Keira was born in October, almost two years to the day after Layla and Sophia arrived.

Craig said: "She's just amazing and has given us a chance to heal after losing such a huge part of our lives.

"Although that void can never be filled, I feel like Keira is helping to do a little bit of that."

Layla enjoyed one Christmas at home with her family in 2022

During Layla's short life, the Turnbulls were supported by Children's Hospices Across Scotland (Chas).

Layla spent her first year in hospital and could never leave for more than a few days because she needed constant medical care and supervision.

But her parents didn't want to spend another Christmas in hospital.

The charity worked with the family so that Layla could spend her first - and her last - Christmas at home last year, making priceless memories with her family.

They helped plan her trip and supported nurses to change their shift patterns to facilitate it.

The precious time meant the world to them.

Dad Craig enjoyed the respite provided by Chas, saying he felt like a dad, not a nurse and carer

Chas also helped them spend Layla's first birthday at home and they were invited to holiday at the charity's respite centre, Robin House, in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire, where they were able to give take Layla swimming and on walks in a double buggy with her twin sister, all for the first time.

Craig said: "A lot of people know palliative care for end of life. It is often seen as a really sad and emotional thing. For us it was the complete opposite, it was the start of happiness and life.

"I could just be dad to Layla, and I previously hadn't had that experience, I had been nurse and carer.

"It was really worrying, daunting and stressful at times so when we went there, it just felt like a weight had been lifted."

The family are sharing their story in support of the Chas Christmas Appeal to thank the charity for enhancing what time they had.

Now the Turnbull family are facing their first Christmas without Layla.

Chas is giving dedicated bereavement support to the family ahead of this milestone season.

Kimberly said: "It's going to be really hard having that first Christmas without Layla.

"It will be very different.

"Sophia is now going to be two and just grasping the concept and being really excited. In a way that will help us, but it also be really hard when she's really excited and doesn't understand why Mummy is crying."

She added: "Layla really enriched our lives. I don't want her life to be remembered in a sad way.

"One of the hard things is when you can't make new memories, but those memories you made along the way become even more valuable."

Nicki Corrigan, service manager for outreach with Chas, said giving time and choice were the most precious things they could offer to families.

"We try to provide them with special memories and help them to create those memories," she said.

"Christmas is a particularly amazing time to be able to help families have time together.

"We are asking staff to come away from their own families at Christmas, so for them to have the knowledge they are enabling such precious time for families is life-changing.

"Chas is about stepping alongside families for the whole journey to have special times through life as well as creating memories at the end of life."