Anna Coonan-Byrom
“Anna allows me to speak about my son unapologetically. She allows me to feel how I need to feel without judgement and without trying to ‘fix’ me. Anna, without ever meeting him, shows my baby so much love – through the smiles we share when we talk about how mischievous he was during my pregnancy; to the tears she sheds when we talk about how short his life was and how unfair it is that it is this way. Anna is one of very few people walking the earth who has come to my baby’s graveside with me and both celebrated him and mourned for him.”
Anthony Oldham:
“Thank you for finding superhuman strength and making those phone calls I couldn’t the day I came home clutching a piece of paper in my hand unable to speak the words written on it – that my son, your grandson, wouldn’t ever come home from the hospital alive. Thank you for being by our side when we went to the hospital to confirm his diagnosis and for holding my hand and promising me we would get through it. Thank you for sitting my two then-four-year-old daughters down and mustering the courage to explain to them that their baby brother was poorly and wouldn’t be coming home.”
Christiane Edel:
“How do I thank the friend who, on hearing that my daughter had died, didn’t hesitate to get in touch with our priest and arrange for him to come and see us, who didn’t blink when I asked if she wouldn’t mind taking some photos of us and our darling Grace, who suggested trying some shots that we were too grief stricken to imagine and spent hours editing the photos to make them look as amazing as possible. I can’t imagine the emotional toll it took on her. A friend who is handy with a camera. We don’t have our daughter, but thanks to Christiane we have some amazing photos of her.”
Jon Walsh:
“He was devastated to learn that Finley had died, and became a huge source of support during those lonely early months. By his own admission he had no experience of fatherhood at that time, let alone of babyloss, but he was willing to listen & to learn. He drove from London to Finley’s funeral, and stepped in when I couldn’t read the letter I had written to Finley. When one of my biggest fears is that Finley will be forgotten, Jon and Claire are treasured friends, who hold Finley in their hearts always.”
Matt Jackson:
“When my daughter Esme was stillborn I was fortunate to have the most wonderful line manager. He helped me navigate returning to work, including advocating for me to have a phased return and counselling through my workplace. He was always willing to listen to me on days I was finding things tough. He was so supportive during my subsequent pregnancy as well. He works tirelessly championing diversity and inclusion within our workplace and has been a great advocate for people like me who have faced mental health issues due to traumas in their life. His empathy and kindness has been nothing short of legendary.”
Sue Leaver:
“Since the moment they were called & informed that I’d had a cesarean and that Finley had been born forever asleep, they have been there for us. They came to see us in the hospital, spending time with Finley. We have some beautiful photos together. They held us up at the funeral – almost 3 years to the day from our wedding, in the same church we married in. They always talk about Finley, remember him on his birthday and Christmas, include him as their grandchild. She can often be found helping me on stalls, and at events.”