Thank you for taking the time to visit Ronnie's page.

We will be using this page to raise money for the Neonatal Unit and Maternity Bereavement Services at James Cook Hospital. These services have played a significant part in Ronnie's life, and beyond.

Our fundraising journey started with running the Middlesbrough 10km, less than 12 weeks postpartum and post child loss, but worth the challenge. We were blown away by the support, and continue to keep this page active for any voluntary donations or fundraising ideas in the future.

Events

August 2022 - The Poor House, music and nibbles (Great Ayton)

September 2022 - Run for all - 10km (Middlesbrough)

September 2022 - CrossFit Teesside fundraiser (Teesside)

June 2023 - Ronnie’s first birthday fundraiser (Great Ayton)

August 2024 - Outdoor baby yoga - The Hive (Stewart Park)

Feburary 2025 - Hardmores half marathon (CrossFit Stokesley @ Saltburn)

Ronnie’s Story

Ronnie’s story starts with happiness and naivety. A lovely, bright day in June, Thursday 16th. Ronnie was full term, and spontaneous labour began.

Even though this whole experience was so unknown and unfamiliar to us as first time parents, it was so exciting. Our memories of labour aren’t scary, or traumatic, it was a heartening experience. We joked between contractions, talked of our plans for the coming weekend, including Fathers Day, and shared our excitement with the midwives of what our future would hold, with our soon to be child. We were going to be a family, and we couldn’t have been happier.

Ronnie came into this world at 9.33pm, 7lbs of perfect. The overwhelming sense of love and instinct to protect our little boy was instant. He was presented to us, and held in our arms for a moment, before he was quickly removed, as a team of professionals swarmed our precious boy. It was clear he needed urgent assistance. We didn’t know what was wrong, but we knew he was in good hands. The next stages of Ronnie’s life happened so fast, in a blur of both delirium and fear. Ronnie was born, he was alive, he was loved, but it started to become clear that he could not stay.

We found out afterwards, Ronnie’s oxygen supply was compromised during the birth, and the damage caused was irreversible.

The neonatal team worked endlessly through the night to improve his condition. They say to expect sleep deprivation with a new born, and we did, but not for the reasons we expected. We spent the night going between the delivery suite and the neonatal unit. We cuddled him, we cradled him, we prayed for him, but it wasn’t enough.

On 17/06/2022, we faced the most difficult decision of our lives, and agreed to withdraw active treatment and keep Ronnie comfortable. We knew this meant we wouldn’t have long with him, and if our love could have saved him, he would have lived forever.

The next chapter of Ronnie’s short life is his last breaths; for which we were transferred to a calm room, away from the machinery and pace of the rest of the hospital. We were able to carry him there ourselves and hold him in embrace. It felt so natural to hold him, and he looked so comfortable in our arms. Those few moments of holding our little boy, living and breathing, away from any tubes or wires, are moments we will always cherish.

We felt his chest rise and fall for the last time, we heard the small crackle of his last inhale as he took his last breath, all the time looking at his innocent little face, so peaceful and perfect. We try to find reassurance in that, we hope he could feel our love and affection, and that’s why he looked at peace. It took some time after for his heart to stop beating, and when it did, our hearts shattered.

When we left the hospital, it was the first time in 9 months I wasn’t carrying my baby, instead, we were carrying a memory box. Ronnie will always be our first born, and hold a very special place in our hearts. We grieve for him, and all the things we had planned that we never got to do with him. He was the one who made us Mum and Dad, and more than that, he made us a family, leading us to support each other through this impossible time of sadness. Ronnie is now a big brother, but continues to be included in our family in every way possible. Talking about him doesn’t remind us that he died, it acknowledges that he lived.

We aim to continue to share his story, and o raise awareness and funds to support others affected, in remembrance of Ronnie.

We hope to use Ronnie's name, and our experience, to help others affected by similar situations. Charitable funding helped us on our journey, and we hope that our efforts can return the support to others. Whether this is to contribute to the funding of medical equipment, to provide comforts for families visiting the unit, or for memory making and keepsakes to take home. When a life is taken too soon, all we have to hold onto our memories and keepsakes when our baby is gone.