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Festive displays for toddler who 'touched hearts'

Donna Stevens A close up of Elliot with blue eyes in front of a chairDonna Stevens
Elliot spent his first Christmas and birthday in hospital due to a rare mitochondrial disease

A lights trail set up in memory of a toddler who died from a rare disease has been keeping the festive spirit alive before and after Christmas for residents of a Somerset town.

Donna Stevens and her husband Paul Stevens set up the charity Elliot's Touch after their son Elliot died from a rare mitochondrial disease at the age of one, in 2015.

The couple from Watchet set up the Christmas lights trail to raise money for the charity.

Mrs Stevens said they wanted to get their son home when he was in hospital "but that never happened", so the trail is their way of keeping his legacy alive.

Donna Stevens Donna and Paul with Elliot in and intensive care unitDonna Stevens
Elliot was put on a special mechanical machine to work his heart

"It started in 2015, when we were in Bristol's children's hospital with Elliot," Mrs Stevens said.

"He was ill, we weren't sure why, but he wasn't reaching his milestones, he couldn't stand or sit up and needed special seating, he wasn't gaining weight."

Mr Stevens said he was moved to the children's unit at Musgrove Hospital where he "deteriorated quickly" and was immediately transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital in a special intensive care unit ambulance.

Donna Stevens Mr and Mrs Stevens wearing smart evening wear at an event smiling at the cameraDonna Stevens
Mrs Stevens said: "The magic of Christmas means more than ever to us"

"He spent his first Christmas and first birthday in hospitals," he said.

Mr Stevens said Elliot was diagnosed with a rare mitochondrial disease which caused his heart to dilate.

"He was then sent to Great Ormand Street hospital and put on a mechanical heart machine to manually work his heart," he added.

Donna Stevens A Christmas lights display outside someone's homeDonna Stevens
About 20 residents took part in the Christmas display to raise money for charity

The couple said their first Christmas without their son was "unbearable", but after seeing their neighbour do a Christmas lights display for charity they "just knew" they had to arrange one in Elliot's memory.

"After a few years the light display has become colossal," Mrs Stevens said.

"It's how we cope, the magic of Christmas means more than ever to us.

"We would have gone to the ends of the earth for him and we still do.

"He touched so many people's hearts, that's why we called the charity Elliot's Touch."

Donna Stevens A Christmas lights display and scene outside someone's homeDonna Stevens
Mrs Stevens said the charity project has become "colossal"

About 20 nearby households have since joined in with the display.

"Each house has a collection tin, hopefully next year it will be bigger," Ms Stevens said.

"We are looking forward to announcing the total amount raised by our lights in the New Year."

The Elliot's Touch charity Christmas lights trail ends on 2 January.

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