A former Premier League footballer whose daughter died from meningococcal septicaemia have said they hope that by speaking out about their loss they can help others in the same situation.
Dean Holden and Danielle Nicholls lost their daughter Cici, aged 17 months, after she contracted meningococcal septicaemia, external while they were on holiday in Lanzarote in May 2012.
Nicholls said it was important for the couple to talk openly about their “devastating” loss as they launch their new YouTube reality series charting their family life “warts and all”.
The mum-of-five told Breakfast that her other four children “have saved my life” and “are my happiness and… my sunshine”.
She said the family used humour as a way to help them to cope with their loss and “I think that that’s how you have to move forward”, adding that “you have to see the brighter side (of life)”.
She said: “I didn’t want the kids to think life was great and then our sister died, and life was horrible and it’s so difficult because there is such sadness.”
“I go to a lot of support groups for parents who have lost children and the thing that comes up is that you are so heartbroken, it’s so devastating, just keeping a marriage together but trying to bring some happiness and love into a family as well, it is difficult,” she added.