We’re completing two events to raise money in memory of our son Eddie on his 1st Birthday.

2nd Of August - Climbing Mount Snowdon.

17th Of September - 10K Balsall Common Run.

Our story and why we will fundraise for The Lily Mae Foundation…

After years of infertility we took the plunge to go for IVF and were so blessed our first round worked at the CRM Coventry - who we still are very grateful for. Over half way through the pregnancy and what we thought was the home straight, I began to have complications and after total neglect and ignorance from our local hospital we ended up in preterm labour / placental abruption and Eddie was born at 20:54 on 02.08.22. Growing 1.5 weeks ahead of his gestation and being perfectly healthy and kicking away until just before he came into the world. Eddies lungs were just too weak  due to not receiving correct treatment. 

It’s been a really difficult year with lots of challenges, change and silent heartbreak and we wanted to push ourselves to do two events to raise money for The Lily Mae Foundation, who provide support, counselling and memorial events throughout the year and much more for bereaved families. 

We discovered the Lily Mae moments after Eddie was born we were given a box, which contained a clay kit, ink print kit, a box to keep hospital bands, a candle, a notebook and two bears one which stayed with us and one with Eddie ( and was swapped over before his funeral ). Without this box we wouldn’t of had any finger or footprints and as grieving parents these were vital. We also had a voucher for a free necklace in the box which I still wear to  this day. The Lily Mae foundation normalise every feeling and reassure there is no right or wrong way to grieve and being able to meet with others who are in the same boat was a godsend in the early days and I’m very grateful for the friends we both have made. 

The charity also offers a Dads group who take on challenges together, a weekly podcast and go on days our such as golf making sure the men are not only talking but also not isolated with their grief and instead are heard, supported and comforted.

We owe this charity a lot and in memory of Eddie we really hope to raise at least £365 to signify a year without him.

Aswell as the Lily Mae Foundation team in particular Amy & Ryan for their counselling sessions with us we would like to thank…

 Our families,  for their continued emotional support for the past year, whilst trying to also grieve their Grandson, nephew, friend. From remembering events,lighting candles , saying his name and putting their emotions aside to console ours. There isn’t enough words to express our thanks to them and we both agree we owe them the world and will never be able to repay them.

We would like to say thank you to our friends for how they’ve handled two grieving parents at 25, we’ve both had a personality change and even now, we would not fully know how to support others going through loss. We appreciate the friends who stuck by us, who messaged and who got us out of the four walls. For those who have had families of their own, we thank you for your sensitivity and patience. Zoe who has supported us both deserves an extra special thanks, she stood by us on the hardest day and is guiding us to the top of Snowdon. 

We would like to thank Professor Quenby and the team from the Tommys Unit at UHCW, after being lied to & kept in the dark from the birth hospital, Professor Q chatted to me and found my undiagnosed autoimmune diagnosis APS within days.The diagnosis doesn't just affect pregnancy but also my life. Thankfully I’ve now got the correct professionals and  blood thinners for the foreseeable. The whole Tommys team   have shown us true care , compassion and hold exceptional knowledge in comparison to the place Eddie was born into. Knowing he could’ve been saved is really difficult and after seeing the clinics work they do is really inspiring.

We would like to thank our celebrant Jayne Hudson for her support, her beautiful service for Eddie with touching ideas & we will forever be grateful for staying with Eddie until the very very end. A very hard thing to do and as we could not, if it was anyone you would trust with this moment it would be Jayne. 

We would like to thank Little Cubs Day Nursery & Rugby Borough football club for raising money in Eddie’s name for the Lily Mae Foundation. A thank you for all of those who attended or donated to these causes.

I personally would like to thank Caroline who has managed to obliterate my flashbacks , got me talking and has reset my entire nervous system / way of thinking. I’m truly grateful for this and she is a true friend.

Finally we would like to thank anyone and everyone who has donated , been patient , showed compassion & showered us with love as we have navigated this crazy,  heartbreaking & sometimes pure survival mode first year.  

We’ve both done lots of growing mentally and emotionally over the past year and with thanks to the above are in a much better place & will always carry a loose grenade of grief with us whilst continuing to live life for Eddie and to raise money in his name for The Lily Mae Foundation.

We will update with our progress via our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Thank you! 

Emily , Ryan & family x

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