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On 16th July 2018 our beautiful daughter Hallie was born at just 24 weeks gestation in the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, Northern Ireland.  She had been diagnosed at 18 weeks with a Cystic Hygroma (collection of fluid on her neck) and Hydrops (collection of fluid around her organs) which was caused by Turner Syndrome, a female-only chromosome disorder that affects just 1 in 2000 baby girls. A completely random error in cell mutation. A terrible case of bad luck.

Her outlook wasn't good and our doctor told us to prepare ourselves for a stillbirth. As it turned out, Rachel went into early labour and Hallie was born by emergency c-section just before Midnight on the 16th July 2018.  She, rather miraculously, lived for 3 whole hours before passing away in our arms at 2.25am on 17th July 2018. They were a totally unexpected gift from our very strong, brave little girl with a fighting spirit that will always inspire us!

We spent 2 days with her in the specially designed Bereavement Suite at the Ulster Hospital.  A beautiful, modern suite which consisted of a private room with a guest bed, a bathroom and a kitchen, situated in a private area away from the main Maternity Ward. While we were there we were gifted a Memory Box filled with lots of little items that were designed to help us create memories with Hallie before we had to say goodbye. Things like kits to create clay and ink prints of her tiny hands and feet, little teddy bears, memory cards for cameras...lots of thoughtful items that helped us make amazing memories with her.

We can't describe to you the sadness of leaving the hospital without our baby girl but having the memory box meant that we didn't have to leave completely empty handed. It has now become our most treasured possession. If we could save one item from a house-fire it would be Hallie's memory box.  And it was donated to us free of charge, having been funded by fellow bereaved parents at 4Louis.

It costs £30 to sponsor one Memory Box. 

4Louis also donates Cold/Cuddle Cots and blankets to hospitals and bereavement centres across the UK. These discreet devices are installed in tiny Moses Baskets underneath baby's own blankets and quilts that keep baby cool, which enables parents to comfortably spend time with their little one after they have passed.  We had access to a cuddle cot while at the Ulster and were able to spend 2 whole days with Hallie before saying our final goodbyes.

Both the Memory Boxes and the Cuddle Cots/Blankets are entirely funded by bereaved parents through 4Louis sponsorship.  

This is our attempt to raise money to enable more of these items to be rolled out to hospitals and bereavement suites throughout the UK so that other bereaved parents can have their heartbreak in some way soothed. Not all hospitals have bereavement suites.  A sad, but true fact.  Many women have to give birth to their stillborn or ill babies in Maternity wards across the country alongside healthy newborns.  Hopefully with 4Louis's help, enough money can be raised to allow and encourage more Bereavement Suites to be opened in hospitals that don't have the facility available just yet.  

Every penny raised will go directly to 4Louis.  Please give what you can, in memory of our beautiful Hallie and all the other babies that have been and unfortunately will be born in similar circumstances. 1 in 4 pregnancies in the UK end in prenatal or neonatal death.  A shocking but sadly accurate figure.  It's time to break the silence and show support to those parents whose babies deserve to be honoured & remembered.

Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. 

All our love and thanks,
Rachel & Michael (& Hallie too!)