In The Name Of Love Jacob's Brave Fight For Life

A Foster Family Tell Why 'He Has Always Been Our Son'

- Julie Jacobson

When Nelson couple Fiona and Neil Helleur welcomed a tiny foster baby into their family 20 years ago, they had no inkling of the heart-wrenching journey that was to come.

Jacob was just 10 months old when the Helleurs first took him in. Neil was a support worker for the then Child Youth and Family (CYF) while Fiona was very involved in the local church, running school holiday programmes and studying for a Diploma of Ministries.

The pair had previously fostered several children on a short-term basis and also provided a loving, stable day-time environment for many others. They also have three children of their own – Emma (31), Ben (30) and Matthew, (25).

Wee Jacob was meant to be another short-term placement.

“Originally, it was going to be a few days,” tells mum Fiona. “Then that was extended to a week, then six weeks. Then they couldn’t find a placement, so they asked if we would consider taking him permanently.”

There was no need for deliberation. Jacob had won the family over and four years after the tot entered their lives, Fiona (55) and Neil (63) were granted legal guardianship and custody.

Their youngest boy turned 21 in December. Tragically, there was little to celebrate. Just months before the milestone birthday, the Helleurs were told their beloved son was losing his battle with life.

It was the cruellest of blows for a family who had watched Jacob become increasingly unwell while fighting to give him as normal a life as possible.

“Jacob has always been our son,” says Fiona, near tears. “He’s been an integral part, not just of his siblings in our immediate family, but in our extended family too.”