We put our hearts and souls into trying for a child. Unfortunately, it’s led to a lot of heartbreak through failed IVF cycles and several miscarriages.
Our most recent loss in January was especially tough and resulted in me needing surgery due to how far along we were. It’s been utterly devastating and has honestly hit us so hard.
There were times we felt completely dropped by medical teams, with no guidance, no real understanding of what we were facing. It was isolating, confusing, and at times, frustrating. Sadly, we weren’t signposted to any support during our hospital visits, which made me realise how much more needs to be done to connect grieving families with resources.
Our research led us to Forever Stars, and the charity’s response was instant and supportive as soon as I reached out to the Forever Stars team. From that moment, I knew they were going to be a great support. Richard (Daniels) in particular always made himself available, or would just check in to see how I am. The charity’s entire team was there at a time when I needed something beyond family.
Forever Stars does incredible work. It offers a lifeline to families like ours through everything, from one-on-one support, workshops, the serenity garden, the incredible suites they provide in hospitals for grieving parents, and just being there to listen when you’re ready to talk. Their compassion, understanding and presence make such a difference.
It’s hard to speak about baby loss when there’s so much stigma and silence around it. But we know that nothing will change unless we start talking about miscarriage, baby loss and the emotional toll it takes. Silence won’t change anything unless more of us start talking. That’s why I’m taking on a running challenge – to raise awareness, start a conversation and help turn something incredibly painful into something positive. I’ve signed up to run two half marathons in two weeks. The first is the Robin Hood Half Marathon, followed by the Manchester Half and I am running both to raise money for the brilliant, local charity Forever Stars, which is supporting me personally at a time when I really need it.
