Story
On
13th June 2009 our lives had changed forever when we found out that our babies
heart had stopped beating. 2 days later, our son Samuel was born asleep at
nearly 40 weeks old. I had a very healthy pregnancy and was classed as low risk
so we were in total shock at the devastating news. Nothing can ever prepare you
for the loss of your child.
We
decided to have a post mortem which revealed that Samuel had died due to an
infection called Group B Streptoccocus.
We
knew nothing about GBS and needed answers as to why this happened and what this
infection was that took our sons life. This is when we found the GBSS charity
who were an absolute lifeline for us in our very darkest days and they continue
to support us now.
GBS
is a bacteria that sits in your gut flora and currently colonises 25-30% of
women. This is normally harmless,
however, it can be passed to newborn babies around childbirth and sadly in
babies which develop GBS infection, it can be very serious.
1 baby a week dies from a GBS
infection and 1 baby a fortnight is left severely disabled. GBS is not routinely tested in
the UK like many other developed countries including Germany and Spain.
A simple test
costing £35 will detect Strep B in late pregnancy and with a course of
antibiotics the baby has a much higher chance of survival. That’s all it takes,
yet most midwives will dismiss the test as it’s not routinely checked in the
UK. However, all we ask is for someone to be given that lifesaving
chance to pay to test themselves and save unnecessary deaths.
The
GBSS charity are working effortlessly to change this and to get the NHS to
include this test as part of the antenatal care (this would cost the NHS £11)
Until this happens, they continue to raise awareness to pregnant women and to
educate the medical profession on the potential risks involved to babies who
are infected by GBS.
Not
a day goes by that we don't think about our son and what should have been. The
pain doesn't get easier and time doesn't heal, you just have to adapt and
adjust.
Emma
is a very good friend of ours and has supported us along this tough
journey.
She
has trained really hard for this marathon and we are so very proud of her and
eternally grateful that she is doing this to raise much needed funds to support
the GBSS charity and to raise awareness too.
Please
support Emma, every penny will make a difference and hopefully spare another
family of such heartache.
Thank
you,
Love
Caz and Jon xxxxx