'Hannah is always in our hearts' FAMILY ATTEND SPECIAL SERVICE TO SHARE MEMORIES OF BABY WHO DIED.

SISTERS Rachael and Laura Sherry released balloons at a memorial service to remember the life of their sister Hannah, who died of liver disease.

Hannah was just six months when she died 11 years ago, and she was remembered at a biennial memorial service by the Children's Liver Disease Foundation.

Hannah, born at Walsgrave Hospital, died on December 6 1993, from a rare liver disease. She was on a waiting list for a kidney transplant but a donor was not found. Her family, of Ashorne Close, Binley, travelled to the University of Birmingham's St Francis Hall for the service, which was attended by more than 100 people.

Mum Dawn Sherry, 45, a nursery officer and play group leader at Ravensdale Primary School, in Ravensdale Road, Wyken, said her daughter's death had been "devastating."

She said: "The service gives us a chance to share our experience with other families and it's encouraging to hear about children with liver disease who are doing well."

Mrs Sherry, whose husband Steve is a customer services engineer at Marconi, in Allard Way, Coventry, said losing a child was "devastating - impossible to put into words."

She added: "She's in our thoughts all the time; we have plenty of pictures of her around the house and Hannah is always in our hearts."

Rachael, 13, is a pupil at Blue Coat CE School, in Terry Road, Stoke, and Laura, eight, goes to Ravensdale Primary.

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D20669 THINKING OF HANNAH: Dawn, Steve, Laura (left) and Rachael Sherry release their balloons in memory of the little girl who died 11 years ago. Picture: WILL BINNS