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We will be running Beachy Head Marathon on 27th October 2018 in memory of our daughter Isabelle, just a couple of months after she would have been celebrating her tenth birthday.

Ten years ago we were enjoying our first pregnancy, without complications, blissfully unaware that our hearts would break and our hopes, dreams and plans for our future as new parents would be shattered.

At full term,  we went to hospital and after a long labour and then emergency c-section, our first daughter was born on 23rd June 2008. Our baby looked perfect on the outside but had suffered a massive bleed. Isabelle had lost so much blood that she had severe brain damage and multiple organ failure.

The next day a doctor told us, in the kindest way possible, that there was nothing more they could do for her and we went into shock.

A shock that lasted the next night when we held her in our arms as she took her last breath. A shock that lasted as we registered her birth and death at the same appointment in the Town Hall. A shock that continued as we chose funeral songs and then walked with her tiny white coffin to the front of the chapel for our final goodbyes.

The shock gave way to sadness and eventually to acceptance. We will never forget our little girl, although she was in our arms for such a short time, she will live in our hearts forever.

Along with our amazing, supportive family and friends, SANDS helped us through the hardest time of our lives and continue to do so to this day. Sadly stories like Isabelle's are more common than you might think. We are raising money to help SANDS to support families who find themselves in the heartbreaking position we did by, for example, providing bereavement packs, online forums, local support groups. Also to train midwives and medical professionals, to research baby loss and to raise awareness. 

Thank you for your support, Janice & Gavin. xx

In memory of Isabelle Gillam 23.06.2008 - 25.06-2008