Lewes florist creates bouquet in memory of five-year-old girl who died in hospital

Aimee Wood received a bunch of flowers on February 24, on the first anniversary of her daughter Olivia's death.

But the note which came with the flowers was not addressed to the 41-year-old, and was a happy birthday message which had been sent by mistake.

Aimee with her daughter Olivia, who died last February in hospital

Aimee's cousin Amanda James, who had ordered the flowers from online florist Eflorist for Aimee, was upset to hear what had happened.

She posted a complaint on an Eflorist Facebook group, which was spotted by Lewes florist Archie Tipple, who co-owns Riverside Flowers in the town.

He offered to create a personalised bouquet in memory of Olivia and donate money to Aimee's chosen charity.

Archie outside Riverside Flowers in Lewes holding the Olivia bouquet

Aimee, a teacher who lives in Nottingham, said: "February 24 was the first anniversary of my daughter's death.

"It's been a horrendous year but my cousin Amanda has been wonderful all the way through.

"She was upset about the flowers and posted on the Eflorist Facebook complaints group - but then she said she'd had a message from a florist down in Sussex.

"They wanted to create a personalised bouquet for Olivia and donate to a charity of my choice.

"I think they are quite a small florist. Donating to charity in these hard times, and to do something for someone completely outside their community - it was just a beautiful thing to do.

"It was a completely selfless act."

The Olivia flower bouquet

After speaking to Aimee about the design for the bouquet, Archie put together a bunch of flowers with colours Olivia loved - inspired by her favourite film, Frozen.

Olivia, who had a congenital heart condition, was taken into hospital for surgery last February.

She was believed to be recovering but tragically suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in her hospital bed.

Olivia was described as 'vivacious, bubbly and known for her smile'

Aimee said: "I will never get over her death, obviously.

"This kind gesture is keeping her spirit alive.

"She was the most bubbly, vivacious and smiling child.

"The bouquet is the most beautiful purple flowers - it is Olivia to a tee. She was all about spreading joy to people and would be beside herself that she left this legacy."

Riverside Flowers is now selling the Olivia bouquet locally, and ten per cent of sales will be donated to the Pyjama Fairies charity, as chosen by Aimee.

The charity makes colourful pyjamas and hospital gowns for children who need surgery, for them to wear at home first, to help ease the trauma of going into hospital for an operation.

Olivia in hospital in a gown made by the Pyjama Fairies

Archie said: "We are very much about supporting people and I'm a member of the Eflorist Facebook group.

"One woman put up her story about ordering flowers for Aimee on the first anniversary of her daughter's death, and how the happy birthday message was totally inappropriate.

"This girl was heartbroken and I thought, I've got to make something good out of this situation.

"I was really glad to be able to bring something good out of a bad experience, and even if it helps create a new memory, that's awesome."

An Eflorist spokesman said: "We’re incredibly sorry to hear about the experience Amanda had with us, this isn’t what we expect at all, we are working closely with our suppliers to make sure this does not happen again.

"Sending flowers is such an important gesture to let loved ones know we are thinking of them and receiving the wrong card message is deeply regretful to us.

"We were in touch with Amanda a few weeks ago to offer our sincere apologies for her experience and we refunded her order in full."