Published: Tuesday, 16th September, 2008 12:30
Parents’ emotion at Doghouse donation
By Mike Farrell
Print Article
Couple’s surprise at ‘jaw-dropping’ gift from pub punters for seriously ill daughter
A COUPLE mourning the loss of one child, and nursing another who is terminally ill, have spoken of their gratitude after a surprise act of kindness.
Mark and Anne Hollern’s son Robbie passed away in January due to the extremely rare genetic condition, Infantile Battens Disease.
Tragically, their second child Rosie, aged three, also has Battens.
At such a difficult time in their lives an unexpected gift of £1,400 from staff and customers of the Doghouse pub has given the parents a tremendous boost.
Mark has been a regular at the pub for the past nine years but was unaware that a special golf day organised from the pub was in aid of his family.
Electrician Mark, 35, told the Reporter: “I didn’t have a clue they were giving me this money, it was a real jaw-dropping moment.
“I see these guys all the time and we generally don’t talk about the kids unless they really want to.
“It’s because it’s quite an emotional subject for them, and they think they might upset me by talking about it — but they still have a great understanding of the situation.”
Infantile Battens is a terrible illness and took Robbie’s life in January this year, when he was just six-years-old.
By the time doctors had diagnosed Robbie’s condition — at 20 months — mum Anne was pregnant with Rosie, who was later also diagnosed.
Rosie has never been able to eat normally, and will never walk or talk.
It has resulted in blindness and Rosie now suffers regular clusters of epileptic seizures.
With the £1,400 raised by the Doghouse Open the family say they feel well supported in the community.
The money will go towards helping keep Rosie as comfortable as possible.
Mark said: “I’m not going to lie — it is hard living with a child who is terminally ill.
“Up until last week, for the past three or four months, Rosie had been having an episode every night.
“She would just become hysterical crying, you could see the fear in her eyes that something was happening to her which we could do nothing about.”
His wife Anne added: “I was absolutely delighted with the support from the Doghouse, as well as from everybody locally — you just don’t get the time to go round and thank everyone individually.
“Right now, I suppose I’m still grieving for Robbie, and I haven’t really had time to do that as Rosie has taken a bad turn since.
“But with a terminally ill child you are constantly mourning, because they will never be able to do normal things, as you try not to think ahead, about how long they’ve got left.”
Around 40 of the lads at the Doghouse took part in the charity drive for Rosie at Ross Priory in Loch Lomond last month, which was hailed a great success.
Andy Clarke, manager of the bar, got the event together with help from regular Alec Davidson.
Andy told the Reporter: “If anyone was deserving of the money, it was Mark and his family.
“I can’t speak more highly of Mark and Anne because the bravery they have shown through all of this is incredible.”
A few years ago the regulars in the pub did the same thing for Robbie, while there have been other donations and fundraisers by folk at the boozer.
Mark and Anne also take Rosie to Robin House, the childrens hospice in Balloch, a stone’s throw away from their home.
Mark said: “We remember watching it getting built with Robbie before he was diagnosed and thinking of all the unfortunate families who would have to use it.
“I don’t think we would be in such a strong position today without Robin House and the support and respite they’ve given us.”
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