THE FAMILY of a dinosaur-mad boy who tragically died celebrated what would have been his tenth birthday with a dinner beneath Dippy the Diplodocus in Coventry.
Ewan Knox, from Carlisle was born in 2014 with Hallermann-Streiff syndrome – a rare condition which affects around 150 people worldwide, meaning his lungs did not develop properly.
Mum Vicky said: “His life was a whirlwind from the start.
“He was rushed into the Great North Children’s Hospital almost as soon as he was born because his airway was collapsed.”
Sadly his condition meant Ewan died just shy of his second birthday.
Dad Mike said: “One of things we did to move forward was to buy a VW Campervan and the first thing we did was get a great big Dippy emblem on the sides and it became known as ‘The Dippy Bus’.
“Everyone would recognise it and spot it as we were driving around.”
Ewan’s family followed Dippy’s tour marking special occasions, or getting the family together – they also raised money for Crawford House at Great Northern Children’s Hospital.
Mike said: “Crawford House was a lifesaver when Ewan was poorly, I don’t know how we’d have got by without it.
“But they survive solely on donations, so after Ewan passed it helped us focus by putting efforts into raising money for them so other families could have the same support we did.”
To mark Ewan’s tenth birthday the family marked it by having a meal with their family beneath Dippy, at Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery and Museum.
Lisa Ford, head of learning and engagement said: “Ewan’s story really touched the hearts of colleagues across CV Life and we wanted to ensure an experience for them to honour his memory and his birthday could go ahead.
“No family should have to experience the loss of a child and it has been incredible to see the strength they have as they have moved forward and channelled their time and efforts into creating positive memories and helping others.
“Museums can be truly magical places that create lifelong memories for our visitors and it is an honour that we have been able to play a small part in creating one of those memories for Vicky, Mike and their family.”
