When Simon and Amy McMurdy’s daughter Olivia was born with complex medical needs, the way they thought their family life would unfold was instantly turned on its head. “We didn’t know what to do or where to turn,” they recall. “Life wasn’t what we expected - but Embrace gave us a roadmap for how to cope.” Here’s the story of how we were able to help and support one family, and how we’re still part of their lives and their story today. 

 

The family first connected with Embrace during Olivia’s early years. “From the 

very beginning, Embrace offered fantastic support; not just for Olivia, but for our whole family,” they say. Simon and Amy describe the impact of Embrace as nothing short of life-changing. “It’s very hard to imagine what you face as a 

family when you’re raising a child with complex needs,” they say. “But Embrace do such amazing work that makes a real difference. They understand what families need: not just the children, but siblings, parents, everyone.” 

 

Embrace, says Amy, are like having an insurance policy for the times in life that you just don’t see coming. Without it, you’d be lost.