We discovered Forever Stars in 2019 following the stillbirth of our son, Noah, when we accessed the Serenity Suite at QMC to spend some precious time with him. That time meant everything to us as we were able to make lifelong memories with Noah, away from the main labour ward. The suite also offered some welcome home comforts, including outdoor space, which was especially appreciated after several weeks on another ward.
At the time, Forever Stars were fundraising for their next big project: the Serenity Garden at Highfields, which was already a special place for our family. Dan and I immediately knew we wanted to help support the charity in achieving that goal, not only as a way to give back, but also as a thank you for creating the Serenity Suites. These spaces allow families, during their darkest moments, to spend cherished time with their babies.
Our fundraising began straight away, with donations from family and friends at Noah’s funeral going to the charity. Not long after, Covid struck, but that didn’t stop us. With the support of our loved ones, we took part in a 2.6-mile walk challenge during lockdown and raised £1,000 – an amazing achievement, especially considering we were already walking daily as part of our routine!
Since then, we’ve continued to support Forever Stars through various fundraising efforts, including completing the One Step at a Time 26-mile walk, attending Forest evenings, Easter egg hunts, Halloween parties, Christmas fayres, and many other events the charity hosts. Our eldest child, Olivia, has also got involved by planning and hosting her own bake sale.
As a family, we also access the charity’s supportive workshops. There really is something for everyone affected by baby loss: parents, siblings, grandparents, and more.
Dan has taken on the role of Captain for Forever Stars FC, helping to highlight the importance of supporting baby loss dads. It allows him to honour Noah in his own way, while connecting with and supporting other bereaved fathers.
In recent months, I’ve taken on more of a behind-the-scenes role supporting with activity planning and volunteers. This is something I’ve done professionally in a previous role, so I’m really excited to be able to offer those skills to support the charity in this way.
It’s a great privilege to be volunteers for Forever Stars, having experienced firsthand how vital their support and services are to families affected by baby loss. It’s an honour to help the charity continue its invaluable work. We get to do all of this in memory of our baby boy, keeping his name alive, and we are incredibly proud to be part of something that brings so much light to people during the darkest times of their lives.
