Wolves pay respects to baby Ryan Brookhouse
Wolves paid tribute to a young baby who died from a rare virus as his funeral cortège passed Molineux.
The family of Ryan Brookhouse stopped at the Billy Wright statue yesterday, where club officials and supporters had gathered to say their goodbyes.
Seven-month-old Ryan from Wolverhampton had been waiting for a heart transplant as he battled against Enterovirus, which he died from last month.
He contracted the virus aged four months, leaving the left side of his heart unable to pump blood and the right side pumping fiercely to compensate.
Wolves players were among those who had given their support to little Ryan, who was born at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton on September 30 last year.
Ahead of the procession, the club wrote on Facebook: "The family of Ryan Brookhouse will pass by Molineux and pause by the Billy Wright Statue enroute to laying Ryan to rest. Anyone wishing to join club staff in paying their respects is welcome to be there. Rest in peace Ryan. Prayers and thoughts for Ryan Brookhouse and family."
Afterwards the club said: "Prayers and thoughts for Ryan Brookhouse and family. Club staff were joined to pay respects as the cortège passed Molineux. Rest in peace Ryan."
Ryan had been receiving treatment at New Cross Hospital, as well as at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. His parents Kaylee Hickman and Gary Brookhouse had been hoping he could have a heart transplant.
But doctors were unable to do anything to save him and he died on May 17.
Well-wishers had supported him and his parents through his plight on Facebook.
Ryan's family had been raising money for a charity called Children Heart Unit Fund which supports the clinical and emotional well-being of the child patients and their loved ones as well as the new Home from Home house, being built at the Freeman hospital so families can stay close to their sick children.
