WHEN teenager Reece Brocklesby knew his life was coming to an end, there was only one place he wanted to be.
The 16-year-old had spent many happy hours at Sunshine House, despite suffering from a life-limiting condition, severe brain damage and epilepsy.
When his health problems finally claimed his life, Reece's family were able to say goodbye to him in his favourite room there.
"There was the Forget Me Not room at Sunshine House, which was especially for children who are passing away," his mum Lisa Dand said.
"We didn't want Reece at hospital and at Sunshine House all his family could be there.
"For something so tragic, we didn't feel we let Reece down and we gave him the send off he deserved.
"It was so nice to have people coming in to say goodbye and it was a place both Reece and his family loved.
"For us it was special and perfect and helped us with the grieving process."
Since Reece's death in January last year, Lisa has been raising money for the centre where he spent his final days.
But Sunshine House has been closed since December 5 when the tidal surge flooded the building. It is not due to open again until this December, but parents are worried it may close permanently.
The Mail understands three families in East Yorkshire who used Sunshine House for palliative care have lost their children while it has been closed.
Ms Dand, of east Hull, said: "Due to my contact with Sunshine House many parents have contacted me in despair about the closure.
"Children are dying in hospital who should be able to spend their last moments in Sunshine House.
"I can't help but feel this is so unfair. Other premises hit by the flooding have reopened and no one can understand why it has taken so long to open Sunshine House."
Mary-Jane Hoyle's daughter Annie-May, ten, is severely disabled with an undiagnosed degenerative neurological condition.
She believes Sunshine House is vital to meet Annie-May's needs.
Mrs Hoyle, of Cottingham Road, north Hull, said: "We received overnight respite at Sunshine House a couple of times a month.
"But now we are just being offered respite care from 6pm to 11pm every other Friday.
"They have even stopped that because they say they are not insured to look after our other daughter Lily.
"Sunshine House is very important to Annie-May. She has the cognitive ability of a six-month old so she can't go to the cinema or go bowling.
"But at Sunshine House there is sensory equipment and the staff are amazing. It is also the one place I know Annie-May will be safe if she has a seizure."
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