On 14th June 2020, our baby daughter Poppy Hodges was born sleeping. We are so completely in love with her and so utterly heartbroken all at the same time. She’s absolutely beautiful and so perfect and the pain we are feeling right now is like no pain we’ve ever experienced. 

Poppy was born in the Blossom Suite at Broomfield Hospital, and the support we have received has been absolutely incredible. 

The Blossom suite is the bereavement suite, on the labour ward but a little tucked away from the screams and cries that can usually be heard. It is a beautiful space allowing couples to birth their poorly babies in a safe and calming environment and then stay with your baby for as long as you’d like, to make some very special and much treasured memories before you have to say your goodbyes. 

It has everything you don’t even know you need in that situation, not just for Mum, but for Dad too. Instead of being a medicalised room, it has a double bed for you to stay together, a bathroom with everything you need because you’re bound to forget something when your head is a mess, a kitchen and supplies to ensure you eat and keep your strength up. More importantly, it has everything you need to create some precious memories of the short time you do get to spend with your baby, including tiny baby clothes to dress your baby, blankets, memory boxes, ongoing support books and information, Aching Arms teddy bears, amazing kind gifts from other couples who’ve walked in your shoes. Another Blossom mummy who’s a professional photographer comes in to take precious photos, the bereavement midwives take hand and foot prints and casts for you, the chaplain provides a naming service and a blessing, with a beautiful order of service to keep, all things I will treasure forever. None of these things bring your baby back, but they all help create those memories which is all we now have. The greatest gift we had was the gift of time with Poppy which was only possible due to them having a cuddle cot which costs thousands of pounds. 

The Blossom Suite bereavement midwives are truly truly special people, Tabitha, Max and Lindsay have treated us and Poppy with such care, compassion and love and are quite frankly our lifeline at this awful time. They will continue to support us as long as we need,  for years to come, and also arrange much needed counselling services. 

We would like to raise some money to support the Blossom suite, because all of this is not possible without funding and support. We are not at all lucky to have needed the Blossom suite services in the first place, but finding ourselves in this situation, we are incredibly lucky to have them. If any of you are able to give a donation in memory of our beautiful baby girl Poppy, no matter how small, we’d really appreciate it. 

Thank you, 

Katie and Jon xx

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