Family's debt after baby's tragic death
Siew Peng Lee • Published 11 May 2012 08:50
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Izy (left) says she'll always be indebted to Paula.
A GRATEFUL family say they will "always be in debt" to a Dunfermline psychic who helped fund-raise for their baby's headstone.
Izy O'Reilly, of Rosyth, lost her wee granddaughter Sophie in November last year, when she died suddenly aged just four months.
However, the family could not afford to buy a headstone and were still paying for the funeral when Paula stepped in to help.
And thanks to £3500 raised from Paula's live show at the Keavil House Hotel in February, Sophie now not only has a headstone but a memorial garden as well - and the family also paid off the funeral costs.
Izy recalled, "I was talking to my friend, Gail Henderson, about how we wanted to get a gravestone and she suggested getting in touch with Paula.
"Gail said Paula did stuff to help people and put us in touch with her. She said yes straight away.
"She was more than happy to help and organised everything.
"On the night itself the turnout was absolutely magnificent and the hall was packed.
"I'll always be in debt to Paula - she's an absolutely wonderful woman and went out of her way to help.
"It was one less worry for Jemma (Sophie's mum) and me - at the end of the day, if it wasn't for Paula and the generosity of the people of West Fife, we wouldn't have Sophie's headstone."
Thanks to the fund-raiser, Sophie now has a "beautiful" headstone and Izy also thanked her sister-in-law, Steph Wallace, who held a raffle to pay for it.
She added, "It didn't seem right to go down to Sophie's graveside and see it without one.
"If there was no headstone it would be just a plot of land and it was just not the same.
"She's now in a beautiful, quiet place which is what we wanted for her."
The graveside will also have a little teddy bear pot, after Paula 'saw' Sophie with the cuddly toy during the show.
Paula (44), who previously did a fund-raiser for the family of three-year-old Eryk Cieraszewski, who was swept out to sea at Kirkcaldy esplanade in November, said it was "an honour to help".
She added, "How can you say no when there's a little baby there with no headstone?
"The family have got a focal point now and somewhere they can go to be near her.
"They involved me in choosing the headstone and photo and verses - it was such an honour."
Of the night itself, Paula said there "wasn't a dry eye in the house".
She added, "When I do a live show I try to get through as many messages as I can.
"There were 20-30 that night and the last spirit that came through was Sophie.
"She wanted everybody to know it was her night and it was quite emotional.
"Everybody was crying, including myself."
Paula will hold a live show on 29th May at the Glen Pavilion. Tickets are £10 and are available from www.paulaobrien.co.uk or at 'Paula O'Brien Psychic Medium' on Facebook.
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May 12, 13:03
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MrsScottsWeeLaddie
48 posts
May 15, 10:54
Report commentFair play for for those involved in raising money and paying for the headstone. Thats a nice thing to do!
People who claim to be able to get messages from the dead though? Sorry, but that makes me feel uneasy?
Recommend?
Yes 7
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DavidHume1711
2 posts
Jun 19, 20:30
Report commentWhy does the Press seem to have such an affinity for gloriously advertising criminals who exploit the stupid and the vulnerable?
I have to admit I have a great respect for 'psychics' - what is must take to ruthlessly explout your own friends and family is truly frightening.
Suppose the cash under the mattress makes up for the lack of sleep these vermin must encounter.
I thought journalism was supposed to expose unjust’s for the public good, yet time and time again the Press choose to unashamedly recognise these despicable ‘humans’ and their self-proclaimed ‘mystical powers’.
Perhaps if the Press were reporting in the spirit (pun intended) of good journalism, they would do well to invite anyone who ‘speaks to the dead’ to take part in a simple experiment overseen by the unscrupulous hand of science and reason, oh and intelligence.
Hello Press – it is 2012, not 1512.
Recommend? Yes 4
No 1
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