Ellie Thompson is a writer, editor and podcaster who’s spent more than a decade talking honestly about parenting – the magic, the mess, and everything in between.
In this powerful guest post, Ellie shares the story of her son Billy – her brave, beautiful boy – and the devastating diagnosis that changed everything. She reflects on the financial decisions so many families make when moving home, including one that almost left them without the critical illness cover that became an essential lifeline during Billy’s illness.
It’s a story no parent ever expects to tell. But it’s one that may just help another family make a different choice.
We’d been in the throes of moving house for what felt like forever. We’d already lost money on a previous move when the sale fell through, twice, thanks to buyers pulling out of the chain. So, when we finally found our (second!) dream home, we were looking at ways to cut costs in the admin of the house move.
One of those cuts? Our critical illness cover.
At the time, I felt it was a safe risk. My husband Jamie, a former semi-pro rugby player, had moved into coaching the local side, and the risk of him suffering a life-changing injury seemed less likely. So, in a bid to reduce our monthly outgoings, we decided to let our critical illness cover go as we took out new policies for the new home.
What is Critical Illness Cover?
Critical illness cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, heart attack, or stroke. It helps cover lost income, bills, or medical costs while you recover.
With some providers, children are also covered at no extra cost – offering financial support if they’re diagnosed with a listed condition, so your family can focus on what matters most during an incredibly difficult time.
At the time we didn’t know all of that, and in our arrogance, we didn’t think it was something we needed to worry about, we were a young family.
The moment that changed everything
Just before the move, I hosted an episode of the My Baba Parental Control podcast with Matt AKA @themodernbroker and founder of Meet Margo. The topic? Life insurance.
About halfway through, I admitted we’d recently cut our critical illness cover – flippantly saying something like, “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Matt didn’t hesitate. He told me straight: we’d made the wrong decision. And thank God he did.
Did you know…
- You are five times more likely to claim on a critical illness cover over life cover
- 1 in 2 people get cancer (CRUK)
- Cancer was the most common reason for critical illness claims, totalling £777 million in payouts in 2023 (ABI)
After recording that episode, I got on the phone with our adviser and put the wheels in motion for a new policy for our personal insurance with critical illness cover added back on.
New House, New Chapter
A couple of weeks later, in mid-August, we moved in. Life was golden. Two beautiful children, a new home—it felt almost too good to be true. As an IVF mum, I knew just how precious all of it was.
Then we started noticing our four-year-old son, Billy, wasn’t quite right. He was wobbly on his feet. Tired. Not his usual self. GP appointments, blood tests, tummy scans – everything came back clear. But we knew something wasn’t right.
On Halloween, 31st October 2023, school called again. “Billy fell over today… It’s strange, he’s upright one minute, and then on the floor the next, just unprompted.” It was the second day in a row we’d had the same call.
Later that day, my husband whispered: “I think he has a brain tumour.” He’d had encephalitis as a teenager and started to draw the dots between the neurological symptoms Billy was more clearly experiencing as the days went by.
I took Billy straight to the GP, who dismissed our concerns. A week later, after Billy fell down the stairs twice and once out of the car, we went straight to A&E.
That was the day our world ended.
They found a mass on his brainstem. The next day, having been blue-lit in an ambulance to St George’s Hospital, an MRI confirmed it: DIPG. A terminal brain tumour. We were told he had months to live.
Our beautiful boy died on Easter Sunday after five unimaginable months. It was a walk through hell, with Billy, our precious boy unknowingly leading the way.
No parent ever imagines they’ll outlive their child. That they’ll have to pick out a coffin. Or funeral flowers. But it happens. It happened to us. And even now, I can’t believe I’m writing those words.
What does Critical Illness cover give you?
Critical illness cover can be a lifeline – and if it wasn’t for the podcast episode with Matt, we wouldn’t have had it.
There were so many delays at the provider’s end in setting it up. They asked for blood tests back in August, which were finally taken in September. Incredibly, the policy only got approved the day before Billy’s diagnosis in November.
If you ever find yourself facing the unimaginable, critical illness cover can make a world of difference. It might help ease the pressure of household expenses, give you time off work without added worry, or allow you to create space for grief and healing in whatever way feels right for you.
It’s not something anyone wants to imagine needing – but having that safety net in place can lift a huge weight when you’re already carrying so much.
Cancer can be a long and devastating journey. In our case, Billy’s battle wasn’t long at all, but it was completely devastating.
Please – don’t wait
I’m a heartbroken mother with one simple message: Don’t cancel your critical illness cover. And if you don’t have it, get it. And do it today.
Critical illness cover isn’t a magic wand, it can’t bring our child back, but without that financial support, we’d have been facing the same unimaginable heartbreak, only with the added weight of financial stress.
The Childhood Bereavement Network estimates that 26,900 parents die each year in the UK, leaving 46,300 dependent children behind. And sometimes, the unspeakable happens, when a parent loses a child.
Please don’t wait to protect your family. If you’ve cancelled your personal cover, review it. If you’ve never had it, speak to someone today.
I’ve said this on the podcast, and I’ll say it again here: Thank you Matt, thank you Meet Margo for helping to make this nightmare that bit easier.
Listen to our podcast episode here
Join Billy’s Battalion: Fighting for a Cure
In the UK, approximately 40 children are diagnosed with DIPG each year. Tragically, the average survival time post-diagnosis is less than a year, and there is currently no effective cure.
In honour of Ellie’s son Billy, she’s set up Billy’s Battalion, a charitable initiative currently awaiting official status, dedicated to raising funds for research into Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). DIPG is a devastating and aggressive brain tumour that primarily affects children, with most diagnoses occurring between the ages of 5 and 7.
All funds raised through Billy’s Battalion will support Abbie’s Army, a UK-based charity committed to funding innovative DIPG research and clinical trials aimed at finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
To contribute to this vital cause and help us make a difference in the lives of children affected by DIPG, please visit our JustGiving page: justgiving.com/page/billysbattalion. Your support brings hope to families facing this heartbreaking diagnosis.
Ellie Thompson is a writer, editor, and podcaster who has spent over a decade sharing honest reflections on parenting and family life. She’s best known for her role as Editor of My Baba and as the voice behind the Parental Control podcast, where she interviewed leading experts and parents on the messy, beautiful reality of raising children.
But beyond her professional work, Ellie is a mother to her daughter Maddie and Billy, her brave boy who is no longer with us.
Through her writing, Ellie shares the raw, unfiltered experience of life after loss, offering an honest and compassionate space for others navigating grief. Her words are a powerful reminder that even in the darkest chapters, there can be connection, comfort, and courage.
Follow Ellie on Instagram, X and Facebook.
