THE arrival of a new baby boy has brought joy to the family of a toddler killed by a drunk driver.
Baby Rafferty Woods was born at the same unit at Whipps Cross University Hospital where tragic Finlay was born.
Finlay was 15-months-old when he died after being crushed by a 4x4 driven by Katie Gutierrez-Perez, who swerved off the road after taking a cocktail of drink and drugs.
Parents Tina and Roger are overjoyed by the arrival of Rafferty, but along with children Dillon, six, and Harvey, four, and Livvy, eight, are still coming to terms with the loss of Finlay.
Mrs Woods, of Winchester Road, Highams Park, said: “It’s still as if it was yesterday. We just take each day as it comes.
“We will definitely tell Rafferty about Fin – we’ve got pictures up and we talk about him every day.”
She added that the family was pulling together and the children are helping out with the new arrival. “They’re over the moon and they’ve been very helpful.
They even argue over who gets to put the dirty nappies away.
“Everything’s fine and the baby’s doing really well.” Weighing in at 5lbs 11oz, Rafferty is settling in at the family home after being born on July 20.
Mrs Woods was pushing Finlay in a pram as she made her way to collect Dillon and Livvy from Selwyn Primary School in Cavendish Rd, Highams Park, on September 18, 2008.
Gutierrez-Perez had taken sleeping pills, wine and cider before getting behind the wheel of her 4x4. She then lost control of the vehicle outside the school, crushing the toddler.
Gutierrez-Perez is still planning to appeal against her seven year sentence for causing death by dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
Mr and Mrs Woods are angry that their son’s killer was reportedly allowed out on day release last month.
The family now plans to hold a charity conker tournament on the anniversary of Finlay's death, in aid of the special care baby unit at Whipps Cross.
Mrs Woods said: “The tournament was Roger's idea.
“After Fin died, we were trying to amuse the children and they went and got a lot of conkers with Roger and his brother.”
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