The ghost of a little boy who died aged 10 weeks appeared in a firework display at a party held to mark his second birthday, his mum believes.
Ralphie Plant passed away last year, and on Tuesday this week his parents, Nicole and Ricky, invited family members to their home in Loughborough to celebrate what would have been his second birthday.
A photograph of one of the fireworks shows the flames take the form of children’s TV character Fireman Sam, and Nicole and Ricky are convinced Ralphie came to the party dressed as Sam, who is his older brother Riley-Lee’s favourite.
A photograph of one of the fireworks shows the flames take the form of children’s TV character Fireman Sam, and Nicole and Ricky are convinced Ralphie came to the party dressed as Sam, who is his older brother Riley-Lee’s favourite
Nicole, 28, said: ‘I put my photos on Facebook and when I spotted it I thought, ‘Wow!’.
‘I posted it on a ghosts and angels page and other people agreed with what I was seeing.
‘I know he’s come to the party and he dressed up as Fireman Sam because he loves his big brother and he’s always with him.
‘When I look at the photo I also see a little halo and angel wings.
Ralphie (pictured with mum Nicole) died on January 16 last year, eight days after being discharged from Nottingham Children’s Hospital at the Queen’s Medical Centre. An inquest later concluded he was suffering from breathing problems caused by a virus
‘People thought I was crazy, but I don’t think they can say that after seeing this picture.’
It is far from the first time that Nicole has felt her son’s spirit was with her.
She said: ‘I see him every day in the little signs he gives me.
‘I had an old microwave and whenever I used it the countdown would stop at seven instead of going to zero.
‘Ralphie was born on November 7, so I thought that was weird.
‘Then, about three months ago, after I moved house, I got a new microwave and it did the same thing – every time I use it the timer stops at seven.’
It is also not the first time Ralphie has turned up in photographs, Nicole said.
‘I took Riley-Lee to Stonehurst Farm in Mountsorrel once and then I posted a picture of him on Facebook.
Pictured: Baby Ralphie, with parents Ricky Plant and Nicole Pike. Nicole and Ricky have since had a new baby, Radley, who was born six weeks early in November last year and also needed special care
‘Someone noticed there were a couple of little stars above his head. They’re a sign from Raphie that he’s always with us.’
Ralphie died on January 16 last year, eight days after being discharged from Nottingham Children’s Hospital at the Queen’s Medical Centre. An inquest later concluded he was suffering from breathing problems caused by a virus.
Nicole and Ricky have since had a new baby, Radley, who was born six weeks early in November last year and also needed special care.
He had a blocked valve in his heart and was cared for in the neonatal unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary for three weeks before being deemed well enough to go home.