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A husband and wife singing duo has recorded a single to raise money for a children’s hospice in memory of a little girl who was cared for by the charity.

Claire and Dean have recorded their own version of the song ‘Special’, originally written by ska and reggae band The Dualers. The single is raising money for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) in memory of Phoebe who was supported by the charity.

Phoebe, was first referred to CHSW’s Charlton Farm hospice in Wraxall when she was just 3 years-old. She was supported by the team at Charlton Farm until she died aged 7 earlier this year.

When Phoebe was born, mum Jessica and dad Josh took their baby home thinking she was a healthy little girl, but the couple, started to become concerned something was wrong when Phoebe started to choke on her milk when being fed.

Phoebe spent 6 weeks in hospital undergoing a raft of tests which revealed she had an unsafe swallow. Instead of being able to swallow her milk, it was going into her lungs, causing her to choke and affecting her breathing. 

Phoebe was also diagnosed with hypotonia, a disease which affects the muscles, and it was decided, to keep her safe, that she should be tube fed.

At the age of 3, after suffering regular bouts of being unwell, Phoebe was rushed back into the children’s hospital suffering with pneumonia and apnoea episodes.

During another 6 week stay in Bristol Children’s Hospital, the family were dealt the devastating blow that Phoebe had Rett Syndrome – a rare, genetic disease that affects brain development and causes severe disability. “To be told that just rocked us as a family,” said dad Josh.

Phoebe was then referred to Charlton Farm which proved game changing for the family.

Josh and Jess say the resilience stays at the hospice allowed them to spend time with Harvey and their other daughter Tilleigh who was born in the summer of 2023.

This is our way of remembering Phoebe and raising money for such an incredible charity which supported the family so much

“It gave us time to do things with Harvey and Tilleigh as a family, we always, always tried our best to include Phoebe in everything we did, but there were some things that practically we just could not do and wanted to keep her well from certain weathers,” said Josh.

Phoebe fell unwell again when the family were on holiday in Paignton this year and on her return home was rushed into intensive care at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Sadly, doctors said Phoebe’s heart and brain was failing and there was nothing else they could do for her. The family returned to Charlton Farm to spend their final days together. Phoebe, died at Charlton Farm with her loving family around her, with Jess and Josh lying cradling her in her bed. 

The family and their friends have been busy fundraising for CHSW since Phoebe’s death, with Claire and Dean, from Westbury-on-Trym, recording the CD at Brunel Studios in Hengrove.

The couple are taking out the CD to their gigs, offering audiences the chance to own a copy in return for a donation. People can also listen to the song – and donate – via their Just Giving page.

So far donations have reached £550 – exceeding Claire and Dean’s initial £500 fundraising target. Claire and Dean also performed at a fun day in tribute to Phoebe held at Failand Village Hall this summer. The duo was asked to help with fundraising by Dan, Josh's best pal and business partner. Claire said:

This is our way of remembering Phoebe and raising money for such an incredible charity which supported the family so much.

Listen and donate now.