In loving memory of Harlee Steele our little legend and the boy with the biggest smile.
Our Story
Our Story
It was just a normal evening in June 2020 when my family life changed forever, our beautiful son Harlee aged just 11 years old was rushed into
hospital after coming downstairs with what we originally thought was just a headache. One minute I’m talking to him, the next I’m giving him CPR, while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Harlee was rushed into hospital and straight into an operation with an agonising 10 hour long wait, sat with our family, hoping and praying everything was going to be okay.
Harlee was on the PICU ward at Southampton General Hospital for 3 days, hoping that he would make an improvement, looking for any little signs, talking and touching him, waiting for him to open his eyes and ask to go home, unfortunately we were then told there wasn’t any more that the doctors and nurses could do, it was time to let him go.
We were told that Harlee had suffered an undiagnosed AVM which was attached to the brain steam, this caused a inoperable haemorrhage.
We were and still are absolutely heartbroken, Harlee was the eldest of three and has left behind his two younger siblings Louie and Elsie-Maè. He was loving, caring and always smiling. Such an easy-going boy, who loved and doted on his siblings. He was loved by his whole family, who all miss him desperately.
He enjoyed playing in his football team and loved the Xbox.
On that terrible day me and my husband Ryan (Harlee’s father) had a very hard decision and we decided to donate Harlee’s organs.
Our family and friends have told us how brave we were to make this difficult decision, but our children were always aware how important donating organs was, Harlee’s Godmother was waiting for a double lung and heart transplant herself and Harlee had said to us “when I’m old I would put myself on the organ donor list”.
Our little hero went on to save the life’s of 6 people. When we received a beautiful letter from one of the recipients it was truly the best feeling ever, just to know that our son really is a hero, as even though he could no longer be with us, he is now making a life changing miracle for someone else.
We think about the recipients a lot and hope they are all doing well and living their life’s to the full, this would be exactly what Harlee would of wanted them all to do.
© 2022 Harlee's Angels
Registered Charity number 1200190
Email: Harleesangels@hotmail.com
