13 Dec 2024
A much-loved toy reindeer which belonged to a brave St Albans teenager before he passed away from cancer has been skilfully restored and given a new home at a local forest school.
Bailey “Bay” Hedingham Jones was just four years old when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma stage 4, a rare form of the disease which affects fewer than 100 children in the UK each year.
Against the odds he beat the disease, only to suffer a relapse after seven years in remission when he was 12, and underwent a course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two bone marrow transplants.
Throughout this gruelling treatment, he was accompanied by his soft toy reindeer Red, won by his stepdad Gav at a fair on Harpenden Common.
His mum Becki Jones said: “They became best friends, Bay loved him and he was a big part of his and our journey. He carried around by his neck – hence the ‘broken’ neck posture poor Red lived with for many years.”
Bailey beat the cancer again and made a full recovery, passing his driving test, completing a Level 3 college course in drama, and even successfully teaching himself magic.
But devastatingly the disease returned several years later when he was 17, and he died aged 19 on November 6 2018.
Becki, who has been a passionate campaigner for charity Solving Kids’ Cancer UK over the past decade, explained: “Bay had the fight and willpower of a lion, and he is missed desperately every day.
“The decision to let go of some of his things has been more of a journey for me than a sudden act, and one day I realised that Red’s life needs to go on.
“He deserved to be in a better place than the loft where I had put him because it was too hard to look at him without getting upset.”
After putting out an appeal on Facebook group St Albans Mums, Becki was amazed by the response from the community, with Suzanne Langridge from Strong Roots Forest School in London Colney promising to give him a forever home.
Shelley Kingston from Colney Heath alterations and repairs service The Sewing Room collected him from Becki’s house and carried out some nips, tucks, restuffing and seam repairs.
She said: “Red had been Bailey’s constant source of comfort and companionship during the gruelling treatments he had to undergo, but as the years passed, all of the cuddles, play and love took their toll.
“His filling deteriorated and he lost his firmness; his legs got floppy and his neck could no longer support his head, but still he was loved, right up until Bailey could no longer fight the horrible disease that had taken over his body.
“After a trip to visit us at The Sewing Room, Red, with this new firm legs and sturdy strong neck, finally gets to return to the forest and will be surrounded by love and laughter for many more years.”
After seeing the restored reindeer, Becki said: “Red looks amazingly happy, he’s been fixed up as good as new. Thank to you Shelley and Suzanne for making something so hard actually become something I’m really glad I did.”
Suzanne added: “Red is ready to inspire a new generation of children at Strong Roots, offering cuddles and comfort under the shade of our trees.
“We are honoured to have been chosen to continue looking after and loving Red, and he has settled wonderfully into his new spot in our wooden cabin.
“Thank you Becki, for trusting us with Red’s journey. He is already much loved here and will be a treasured part of our forest school experience.”
