Thank you for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

On the 11th July this year (2022), our Son - Louie Alexander Izzard was born sleeping at just 25 weeks pregnant. This is a situation we never imagined ourselves to be in & there are not enough words to describe the heartbreak we now live through each day.

Louie was born in the early hours of the 11th July and we were quickly moved from the Labour Ward to the Snowdrop suite.
Before this happened to us we had never heard of the Snowdrop suite or even knew that a Maternity Bereavement Team existed.

The Snowdrop suite is a larger, private room with an en-suite. The room also has a kitchenette and sofas providing room for loved ones to visit. In this room you cannot hear anything going on in the nearby labour ward.
We got to spend many precious hours with our little Louie, and having the space & privacy of the Snowdrop suite provided us with the isolation and safe-haven from the rest of the hospital surroundings.

We didn't realise how much we appreciated this suite as we reflected on our precious memories of holding Louie, singing to him, talking to him and capturing short moments that we'll treasure forever.

Unfortunately the Snowdrop suite is used more than even we had imagined. Just as we had gone to visit Louie the next day we asked whether we would be back in the same room, sadly our bereavement midwife told us that it was occupied yet again just a day after ourselves. From our understanding this is often the case, and on occasion bereft parents might have to make use of a room just off the busy labour ward.

On Saturday 15th October (at the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week) we are doing 16 mile sponsored walk from Bingley to Leeds City Centre along the Leeds Liverpool Canal - to raise money to help fund towards a 2nd Snowdrop Suite at the BRI. The second room will hopefully ensure that anyone else who goes through the heartbreak of baby loss will be provided with the space, privacy and time that they need.

We would like anyone to come along and take part. Matthew is putting together joining & leaving points for anyone who would like to take part but do a shorter walk. We will post updates on this JustGiving page & social media. Link to event here - https://fb.me/e/27n7obNms

We cannot thank our bereavement midwife, the midwives present and other professionals enough who looked after us and comforted us on the worst day of our lives. Not only do we want to raise money for the suite, but we want to raise awareness of the difficult work that the bereavement team do and honour our son, Louie Alexander Izzard. Forever loved by us all.

Thank you for reading a short but important part of our story & we hope you can take part in some way - whether you walk with us, donate or cheer us on.

Laura, Matthew & Ruby (Louie's big sister)

xxxx