Shared experiences

Very many thanks to all the parents, siblings, families and friends, who have allowed us to share their experiences on this site.

William Richard

2 nd – 6 th November 2001

I was rushed to hospital at 28 weeks and 2 days with a rapid onset of severe pre-eclampsia, and had to have an emergency Caesarean that evening. William was born at 6.09pm, weighing 2 ½ lbs, and in good health for a baby born so early. But he sadly died at 7am on Monday 6 th November after catching an infection in SCBU.

I feel that I am one of the luckier Mums. After all I had him for four days – the most precious four days of my life. But the feeling that he shouldn't have died tears me apart. Here is a copy of the letter we wrote to our beautiful son.

Our darling son William ,

Words cannot describe the happiness we felt when I found out we had made you. I knew right away we had a very special baby and was always convinced we had a little boy. You were what we wanted so badly – our first child.

I was ill most of the time carrying you and although I disliked being pregnant the feeling of you growing inside me, watching my body change and feeling your movements made me feel wonderful. I couldn't wait to be a mum – to hold you and see what you looked like.

I was so scared because I had to have you so early and it was all such a huge shock. How would I cope? But I fell head over heels in love with you as soon as I saw you – a perfect little boy. There is a saying that all good things come in small packages and that's how we think of you.

I know you fought very hard to stay with us and we are so proud of our little soldier, but God needed you to be an angel and although we are so sad because you cannot be with us, we know of the good you are doing and that you are always looking down from heaven.

One day we want to give you a little brother or sister and will be so proud to tell them about our wonderful boy. We know that you will be their guardian angel. We want you to know how much loved you are and that you will always be our very special son.

Lots of love Mummy and Daddy.

Karen and Richard.

In May 2003 Karen sent us good news:
" We now have a beautiful duaghter - Aice Eliza - born just after what would have been Wiliam's first birthday. Our little girl cannot replace our loss but she makes our lives worth living again.

Please could you add the news of Alice's safe arrival because we want to give hope for parents who have first born angels and are worried to try again."

Karen