Leanne Victoria Derrick

Leanne Derrick went to the angels above on February 6th 2006, aged 20. Missed dearly by her
parents, Brenda and Stephen and her older sister, Krystle.

Both our parents made each day for Leanne as special as they could. It was clear and obvious to
anyone that met Leanne that she adored both her mum and her dad. My parents always made Leanne feel
like a princess and it is impossible to love someone the way that my parents loved and continue to
love Leanne.

Leanne loved her DVDs, she adored the Tweenies and Disney films. I have so many happy memories of
Leanne that my family and I will continue to talk about until the day we die. The memories of
birthdays and special Christmases.

Leanne had the biggest brown eyes that constantly twinkled. She had the most beautiful laugh that
was incredibly infectious. I loved it when Leanne got the giggles her shoulders would go ten to the
dozen. Leanne may not have been able to talk but she made up for that in her snoring and her
laughing. The cheeky monkey. Her smile went from ear to ear and she was full of smiles that always
made everyone smile too.

Leanne only knew how to love and when ever I was down I only had to see my sister. She would always
brighten up my day. I learnt a lot from my sister the true meaning of love and the importance of
family.
Leanne was a people person and she loved to be around people. When we were out, it was no good
trying to talk to Leanne because she was to busy being nosey. It was so funny, bless her.

Many people said that Leanne was 'different' because of her severe Cerebral Palsy but to me she
wasn't, she is 'special'. Leanne had the greatest personality that anyone could have wished for. She
sparkled and brightened up every one's day.

I love her so much and we know that she is no longer with us but I do know that she will watch over
us all. Leanne is now a beautiful white angel and is a star that will continue to shine for as long
as we continue to share her memories and stories.

Leanne is the best sister anyone could have wished for and meant more to me than anything in this
world. Thinking of Leanne will always make me smile. We have seen each other at our worst, as well
as our best, yet we still have that special closeness that only we understand. I am so grateful for
the loyalty and love that Leanne has shown me over the years. Thank you for being such a great
sister, daughter and friend. Our love will always be with you angel.


Story of an Angel 8th Nov 2007
Brenda derrick from Mablethorpe, MUM

Leanne was born on the 19th November 1985 at Leicester Royal Infirmary. I had a difficult birth and
when Leanne was born she wasnt breathing she weighed 8 pounds 14 ounces in her first few days of
life she had pressure on the brain which caused a seizure and she had an operation to release the
pressure.

Leanne was in the special care baby unit for one month her head never grew for the first three
months and we were told if she had not been such a big baby she would not have survived. At 11
months we were told she would not walk or talk and her lifespan would be short we knew Leanne would
have problems. We had another beautiful daughter called Krystle who was 2 and a half years old when
Leanne was born.

We moved to Derby where Leanne went to a brilliant school, when she was 5 circumstances took us back
to Kettering where family lived but we soon realised Derby was the best place to be for Leanne. She
went back to Westbrook School where we met a lovely lady called Christine who was and still is a
good friend she was Leanne's lunchtime feeder.

Leanne had various operations in her life she suffered with hip problems and had two operations to
help her. When she was eleven she had a gastronostomy fitted, when she was eleven and a half her
consultant said there was an operation to fit a baclofen pump as it was expensive we had to wait for
funding as Leanne was very stiff she was an ideal candidate. In october 1998 Leanne was fitted with
the computerised pump she was the first child with Cerebral Palsy to have it done at the Queens
Medical Centre in Nottingham. It was wonderful leanne was happy and we could get out more as she
couldn't sit in her wheelchair for long without crying.

In 2005 leanne had rods placed in her spine to help the curvature her recovery was slow and three
weeks after that operation one of the rods at the bottom twisted and was pushing her bone out. So
she had to go back for another operation and she never went back to school as she had to leave at
18. By october 2005 Leanne was back to full health and was going to a day centre two days a week.

On January 18th 2006 Leanne went for her usual refill for her pump and the man who did the computer
didnt turn up, the refill was postponed until the following week 25th January but Leanne was not
well when we returned to hospital on that date and she was admitted to the Childrens Intensive Care
and on Friday 27th January.

She was taken to the adults intensive care on February 6th at 1:45am Leanne suffered a heart attack
due to muscle breakdown they revived her and we thought she would survive but by mid morning they
decided it was in Leannes best interest to turn the life support machine off.

Anyone who has been through this will know how we felt our precious daughter, sister died at 6:55pm
on the 6th February 2006. We have only just had Leanne's inquest in September 2007.

The very operation that gave Leanne quality of life has taken her from us and our family of four is
now three till we meet again watch over us angel xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


In Memory of Leanne Victoria Derrick

To want and not to be able
To hold and love so true
Was taken from us one sad day
When the angels came for you

We held our hands united
We stood so proud and tall
But our strengths could not defy it
When the heavens made the call

We baptised ourselves in tears
When we heard the heaven bells ring
For we could do nothing more to stop them
But listen to the angels sing

They left your memory with us
They blessed us with your past
They blessed us with your presence
But Leanne it wasn't to last

You'll be shinning in the heavens skies
You'll be glowing like the sun
No more will we see you our sweet love
Until we come the chosen one

Andy Jordon

♥TIME♥

I thought that time was healing
All the hurt you left behind
That empty spaces could be filled
My arms, my heart, my mind
And though my body looks the same
As it did when you were here
The emptiness is growing
Even bigger with each year

I thought that time was healing
All the agonising pain
That as the tears were fading
Soon I wouldn't feel the same
And though I can be smiling
And you think that I'll survive
The pain is in my blood now
I have nowhere else to hide

I thought that time was healing
All the loss a mother feels
That now you live within my heart
I had you near me still
But I need so much to touch you
To see you smile again
And those memories I'm told are mine
Can never feel the same

I thought that time was healing
All the while the mask was worn
That underneath a new me
Was waiting to be born
But now I find I am the mask
It helps to keep me safe
And though my heart is breaking
You won't see it in my face

I thought that time was healing
All those tears my eyes have seen
That aching arms that miss you
Could be satisfied with dreams
But here I am, in pain again
And healing stands alone
And mother weeps the world can see
For a daughter who can't come home♥

We miss you so much our precious angel
Love Mum Dad and Krystle xxxxxxxxxx