On 11th September 2010, our beautiful baby boy, Kyle Matthew Clark was born asleep.  We had a great pregnancy without any problems and spent 9 months looking forward to welcoming our first baby into the world.  However, our lives were torn apart when at 40+5 weeks, we were told Kyle's heart had stopped beating.  

 

The same morning we were transferred down to the main delivery suite at Bedford Hospital where labour was induced. During labour we were moved rooms, which in itself was distressing, however the staff on the delivery suite helped us as best they could.  Having to give birth knowing that we would have to shortly say goodbye to our son was heartbreaking, but unfortunately we had no choice and with the support of the midwifes on delivery, Kyle was born the following morning at 6.11am.

 

For that morning, we were able to stay in the room on delivery, and they allowed grandparents to visit and also arranged for a priest to attend for Kyle's blessing.

 

However, that afternoon we were told that they were too busy and needed our room and we would be transferred to a room within the main postnatal ward.  The staff up to this point were great, and did everything they could have with the facilities that the hospital had.  However, we were moved to a room at the far end of the ward, and Kyle and I were transferred through the middle of the ward during visiting hours to get to the side room.

 

Once I was in the room we were surrounded by crying babies. We were trying to come to terms with what had happened and all we could hear were other mums talking and laughing and their new born babies crying.  Unfortunately our care stopped once we were transferred and because of this we were forced to make the agonising decision to go home and say good bye to Kyle as the alternative of staying at hospital in these conditions was impossible.  That same night we had leave hospital, leave our baby behind and go home to an empty house which only 48 hours earlier was a home filled with so much excitement and hope.

 

Because of our experience, we are determined to help any future bereaved parents at Bedford Hospital by making sure they have the proper facilities.  We want to make sure that Bedford Hospital has a designated Bereavement Suite where Mum can give birth in nice surroundings and where both Mum and Dad can spend as much time with their baby as they would like.  Where both parents can stay comfortably and make those memories that they can treasure forever.  Somewhere that family can visit to say their goodbye's in a peaceful environment.  Somewhere that Mum and Dad can shower and make themselves a cup of tea without having strangers coming in and out.  A place where they are treated as a priority.  

 

Although the Cygnet Wing at Bedford Hospital is only 14 years old, this facility has never been built.  The hospital has earmarked a place within the unit for the bereavement suite to go, however funding is something that is needed so the conversion can go ahead.   Other hospitals within the surrounding areas have a bereavement suite, and it is so important that Bedford also does.

 

On 31st July 2011 Kyle's Daddy, Matthew Clark is competing in the London Triathlon to raise funds for Bedfordshire Sands for the Bereavement Suite at Bedford Hospital.  We need as much support as possible so please help and donate as much money as you can.

 

All the money we raise will be going towards paying for the conversion and everything that is needed within the Bereavement Suite.

 

Thank you so much for donating x

 

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

 

About the Charity I am raising money for: Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, is an organisation that offers support when a baby dies during pregnancy or after birth.

 

Sands, was founded in 1978 by a small group of bereaved parents devastated by the death of their babies and in particular by what they felt was a complete lack of acknowledgement and understanding of the significance and impact of their loss.

 

Over the past 25 years the charity has supported many thousands of families whose babies have died, offering emotional support, comfort and practical help. Sands has worked tirelessly with health professionals to revolutionise the care bereaved families receive in hospital. Sands has fundamentally changed the way in which bereaved parents and their babies are cared for

 

Why Sands is so relevant: Incredibly in the UK today, in spite of medical advances, many parents, their families and friends continue to have their lives quite literally turned upside down by the death of their baby.  17 babies a day are either stillborn or die within the first twenty eight days of life, over 6,500 babies dying every year.  Rates of stillbirth have remained relatively unchanged for 20 years and in fact are increasing.

 

Sands core aims are to:

 

support anyone affected by the death of a baby;

 

work with health professionals to improve the quality of care and services provided to bereaved parents and their families;

 

and promote changes in antenatal practice and to fund research that could help to reduce the loss of babies' lives and the number of families devastated by this tragedy.

 

With your support we can really make a difference.

 

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Sands gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

 

So please sponsor me now and thank you for your support!