Dear Walter,

Last year our friends and family raised an incredible amount for charity to honour you. Originally we intended for it to be a one off event. However, we were overwhelmed by the response and momentum our fundraising gained. So now our family and friends have decided to take up a challenge each year to raise money and support other families in your name.

Your story

On 30th December 2020, you were born. We were very excited to finally meet you, especially your big brother Rupert. Although we were hoping you would arrive before Christmas, you stubbornly stayed put to enjoy the festive feasting. This was evident when you arrived a whopping 8lb 11oz. We instantly fell in love with you. Unfortunately, you were very poorly and were taken to intensive care. It was a surreal experience as we sat by your side while you were connected to machines, so many wires and lots of noise. As the days went by, we would read the success stories in the corridors of babies leaving and thriving, which would fill us with hope. Looking around the unit at mostly tiny premature babies in hot plastic boxes, naively we felt assured you would cruise on through to the next room, as you would require less support.

There was a nasty global virus, which meant that Mummy and Daddy could not sit together with you, so we would take it in turns to stare, read and fall deeper in love with you. We assumed that this was going to be one of those anecdotes, similar to the story your Nana tells about Mummy’s arm. On day seven you had a brain scan, we had been informed there would be some brain damage and we had already made plans to care for you. We were desperate to have you home. The results came back and our world caved in, you were not coming home.

On 8th January, we removed those uncomfortable tubes, cuddled you without machines and spent a very short time as doting parents taking (not enough) photos. It was peaceful, and then you left this world.

After we left you, we walked to beach. How would we tell your brother? He was incredible and the reason to keep going and get up in the morning. It was lockdown, so the world was upside-down, but the love arrived on our doorstep. Although our family and friends were far away, the love poured though our letterbox. Everyone was so kind sending food, toys and flowers. There was so much love, this gave us hope and strength to get through the painful months that followed.

We now had new shoes to fill, those of bereaved parents. A role nobody wants. Although devastated and broken, we wanted no other parents to experience this tragedy. We fought hard during investigations and a big inquest to improve maternity services. You even had your 5 minutes of fame on the television. There have been changes made at the hospital in your name, which will save babies lives. Walter’s legacy.

Good deeds are happening to honour you. Every year for your birthday, tiny hats are knitted for the babies in neonatal care, a gift from Walter. This year we have two large teams of family and friends running the Brighton half marathon, Brighton and London marathon. In addition to this our friend James is taking on the challenge of a mammoth 302 km bike ride.

The charity

All money raised will go to a special local charity the Trevor Mann Baby Unit in Brighton, which provides Intensive care and special care for premature and sick newborn babies. Your support will help to purchase equipment, improve the environment and deliver even better care to premature and sick babies in Brighton, Hove and Mid Sussex. The neonatal service provides care to babies who require extra care such as help with developing, eating, or breathing.

During such a difficult time, it's important to make sure families feel as comfortable and supported as possible. Knowing that contributions to the TMBU Fund advance the care provided to the precious babies on the unit helps with this. Specifically, donations are used to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, fund environmental upgrades, support advanced training for staff, and invest in innovative research to keep up-to-date in diagnostic and treatment developments.

Send some sunshine on challenge day.

All our love

Mummy, Daddy, Rupert and Queenie

xxx

The 2024 Team

Brighton Half Marathon - Eve, Natalie, John, Phil & Eileen

Brighton Full Marathon - Barney, Ant, Eddie, Alex, Phil and Noel

London Marathon - Eve

Hailsham Venta 300 KM bike ride - James R

Thank you for supporting this charity and raising awareness of baby loss.