Finding Finley explores the family journey of the Stocktons
Claire Stockton, formerly of west Hull and now living in North Lincolnshire, has self-published Finding Finley(Image: Family of Finley Stockton)
It took a Hull mum 19 years to receive a diagnosis for her son and his “mystery symptoms”. Now Claire Stockton has written her debut memoir, Finding Finley, in the hope of supporting other families facing complex medical journeys.
The self-published book only went on sale on Amazon recently and Claire is delighted to have sold 70 copies already and to be receiving positive reviews. Healthcare professional Claire shares her clinical expertise – she works three days a week at a hospital in York – with lived experience as a mother navigating her son Finley’s rare diagnosis of ReNU Syndrome. Claire is also a trustee for ReNU Syndrome UK, where she volunteers to support families and raise awareness of this newly discovered genetic condition. She said: “Finley is doing really, really well.
“He still has his seizures but he’s settling into our new house really well.” The family moved from west Hull to North Lincolnshire, to a “large cottage with lots of land”, not long ago.
Claire said: “With the space we have got now, we have a new hot tub and Finley loves it; he goes in nearly every day.” The garden includes an old well which Claire, who is planning to convert one of the outbuildings to a writing space, has been inspired by and will feature in her next book.
“My writing room is called The Chapter,” she said. “It’s unbelievable that it was only August 28 – which is our wedding anniversary and why I chose the day – when I published Finding Finley and it has sold so many copies.”
She started writing the work in secret last year; she did not want anyone to know, including her husband Carl and daughter Lauryn, because she did not want to put any pressure on herself. The blurb for the book says: “Some journeys begin the moment everything you expected quietly falls away.”
Finding Finley is described as a mother’s honest, tender account of love, courage and the quiet strength found in caring for a child who sees the world a little differently. It follows the moments, ordinary and extraordinary, that reshape a family, and the hope held onto in the hardest of them.
It is also a story touched by ReNU Syndrome, a newly identified genetic condition that has since captured the attention of the scientific world. Finding Finley was also written to shine a light on what life is truly like for adults caring for a disabled child or adult.
It is an honest look at the everyday realities – the challenges, the strength, the love, and the moments that so often go unseen. Claire’s hope is to help more families feel understood, supported, and less alone in their journey – “I want to find the rest of our tribe, really,” she said.
Claire is passionate about helping families feel informed, connected, and less alone. She has purposely left space in the book where readers can note their own thoughts and reflections.
“Hopefully I can empower parents and support parents through my book.” Claire is now a few chapters into her second book, Isla Rose and the Penny Wishes, aimed at eight years and upwards.
“It’s going to be about empowering children to become the best version of themselves that they can be. It’s a very magical book; I hope children will take something from it.”
Among the readers who have discovered Finding Finley is one who calls it a “helpful, logical and step by step account to support the needs of other families”. Another says: “You can feel the love from Claire and all her family in this superbly written book which should help parents of all disabled children as well as those with ReNU Syndrome.”
One glowing testimony for the book comes from Sanja Bresarovic, who was one of Finley’s hospital consultants. She said: “Your story made me feel the incredible love you have for Finley, but also the pain and exhaustion that came with everything you had to face as a family.
“The endless hospital visits, the appointments, the waiting, the uncertainty, and not knowing what was happening to your precious boy must have been incredibly difficult. I can only imagine how many times you must have felt frightened, helpless and completely drained, while still somehow finding the strength to carry on.
“What stayed with me most was the hope. Even through all the fear, heartbreak and uncertainty, you never stopped hoping for Finley. You kept searching for answers, kept fighting for him and kept believing in him.”
Sanja also said: “Your book isn’t simply a story about disability or diagnosis. It’s the story of a little boy, his mum, his family, and everything they have been through together. It’s about love, fear, courage, exhaustion, resilience and never giving up.”
She thanked Claire for being “so honest and brave” in sharing such a deeply personal story. “I hope you know that by telling Finley’s story, you may give another parent sitting in a hospital waiting room, frightened and desperately waiting for answers, the feeling that they are not alone.”
Claire’s own story is woven with the same thread that runs through her books: resilience, hope, and finding light in unexpected places. In 2012, she carried the Olympic torch through her community, a moment she still counts among her proudest, and she has also had the honour of meeting the Queen.
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