Claire Gray
'Team Matilda' in Tiny Life does Strictly, 2015
Fundraising for TinyLife formerly NIMBA
Story
Thanks so much for taking the time to visit Matilda's new JustGiving page.
It's utterly gut wrenching and so hard to believe it will be our gorgeous little sugarplum Matilda's second anniversary on 25th October... Two years/ 730 days/ 17 520 hours/ 1 051 200 minutes too long....
This year Kris and I've decided to try to do something challenging and positive together in her memory .... so "Team Matilda" (that's us!!!) are taking part in Tiny Life does Strictly! Along with 13 other couples we're learning 3 dances in just 7 weeks and performing them in the show at La Mon on Thurs 5th Nov - just a tad nerve wracking as we're both ballroom beginners ... and Kris is also a sequin novice!
On 1st August 2013, when our gorgeous little Matilda was five days old, we were given the devastating news that she had Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18) and that it was a severely life limiting condition. There are no words to truly describe the pain of hearing that our beautiful baby could pass away at any moment of any day.
Tiny life were a wonderful source of support to us when we took Matilda home on her 2 week birthday. Although Matilda had a very strong "Maggie Simpson" suck which she put to good use on her beloved dummy, she was tube fed. TinyLife provided me with a breast pump on loan so that she could have my milk. We called it "expressed/exbreast feeding"!!! It was a very reliable double pump which saved me so much time, therefore giving me more time to hold Matilda for our precious snuggle time. Anytime I'd a pump issue TinyLife's Elaine sorted it for me, which took away extra stress in what was a very overwhelming time. Something so simple that made such a huge difference.
Tiny life also gave us little blankies, cardies and hats for Matilda. It was difficult to find clothes to fit her properly and was emotionally very painful standing in shops and seeing sizes Matilda would never be able to grow into. But Tinylife was like a "Matilda Boutique"! It was a really lovely experience choosing beautiful items that had been lovingly knitted and fitted her so perfectly. We cherish each and every one of them.
Best of all was baby massage in Tinylife's sensory room. It was such a magical experience and it truly enhanced Matilda's life and our family's memories. She was so relaxed with the peaceful music, tranquil lights and very gentle massage. She loved ❤️ it. She even held out her feet each time as if to say "oh mummy I love this. Do it again mummy".
After 90 amazing days with our sweet baby girl, we had no choice... we had to say goodbye. As a Mummy and Daddy to an angel, a very big fear is that Matilda will be forgotten. Tiny Life have six premature sized baby massage dolls. Three are named Hollie (in memory of Matilda's beautiful little angel friend), and the other three are named Matilda, in memory of our sugarplum. It means the world to us that a little piece of Matilda's memory lives on at TinyLife.
We would absolutely love to raise some funds for Tiny Life to help other very special little babas like our beautiful Matilda.
She is Matilda Margaret Ruth Gray She is infinitely loved She is immeasurably missed and She is remembered with every beat of our hearts
Thank you so so much for visiting her new page and donating if you are able.
Love
Claire, Kris, Matilda⭐️ & Archie🌈xxxx