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On 2nd December 2017 at 10:27am I gave birth to our beautiful baby girl and Albert's little sister, Nell Bailey. Unfortunately, we found out at 37 weeks and 4 days that her arrival into this world would not be marked with the usual wailing of a newborn. Nell's brain had not developed as it should and we were told that she had a number of serious brain abnormalities including lissencephaly and subcortical band heretopia. These two serious issues were coupled with a number of other serious problems in brain development and we were told that our daughter had no prospect of a good quality of life. She was "stillborn" at Homerton Hospital. 

Throughout this incredibly sad time the medical and emotional care that the Homerton Hospital team provided us was exceptional. We feel truly grateful that this was our experience. Here is an excerpt from a letter I wrote to our midwife: 

"John and I will never forget the care that we received and that was given to our daughter by you and your colleagues at Homerton Hospital. from fetal care to your ward. The way this resonates as we look back on our experience is so incredibly important. At our most vulnerable we were loved for and cared for, not just medically but emotionally and with dignity and respect. As a result, it is hard for us to communicate just how much love and warmth we feel for you." 

We miss Nell everyday and will love and remember her forever. 

Fundraising and taking small, positive actions in her name is our way of remembering her and bringing her with us whilst supporting the amazing work and community at Homerton Hospital (where Albert was also born). 

I am looking to fundraise £5000 over the next year for Homerton Hope. My aim is to support: 

• Resources for stillborn parents and midwifery teams including training, support and "memories" work
• Time and resource for memory gardens at Homerton Hospital 
• Support for neurological, paediatric and child health research and innovation work at Homerton Hospital  

How will I fundraise? 

Our first major challenge is going to be completing the The Raid Pyrenean. This is a 723km ride from coast to coast across France, through the Pyrenees. 

We will be starting off at the at the Atlantic Coast just south of Biarritz and making our way across the Pyrenees mountain range taking on some of the Tour de France’s most famous and toughest Cols including the fearsome Tourmalet, standing at 2,115 m above sea level. 

There will be a 16,000m elevation gain (that’s nearly 2 x Mount Everest!) as we cycle across the mountain range, covering 723 km as we go. We hope to make it to the Mediterranean around 10 days later and have a celebratory dip in the sea at Cerbere.

We will have a caravan with us, including our three year old and grandparents. Do let us know if you'd like to join this support vehicle or take part for some of the stages. We will be cycling 70+km a day over many of the Tour De France cols. 

Please give generously! We haven't been on our bikes properly for years and I have no core stomach muscles to get me up the mountains. Believe me, this will be a challenge! 

I'll keep the page updated with all fundraising activities, but feel free to get the page kick-started with any donations and any Qs shout! 

Finally, if you'd like to join our fundraising team you can also set up a Justgiving page and I can connect you to the team. Other charities I would like to support in Nell's name are: 

• The Children's Trust
• Cerebra 
• Contact 
• The National Brain Appeal 

I am trying to do something in Nell's name each month, volunteering, fundraising or similar. Feel free to throw ideas my way! 

About Homerton: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homerton

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