Daisy Hutchings:
“As the mother of a mother whose beautiful baby girl arrived nearly full term sleeping it’s been a hard and emotional few months. I’d like to nominate my amazing daughter Daisy Hutchings, words cannot describe how proud of her I am. I remember the phone call, a quick trip to the hospital to be checked out ……… the devasting news, no heartbeat. I cannot even comprehend what was going through Daisy’s mind, but she was so strong with the help of the wonderful staff at Yeovil hospital we met Belle, a true beauty, so small but so perfect. Each day sets a new challenge but every day Daisy moves forward whatever it brings.”
Demi Pitt:
“There are things some of you wouldn’t know, the pain is still burning in my stomach, the ache in my chest, the anxiety that lives in me every day and the constant guilt of living when my child is not”. These are the words in a fund raising program organised by Demi Francis whose son Ronnie was still born on the 28th January 2016. She built a bar in her back garden and called it Ronnie’s and made it a place for people to socialise, for angel parents to congregate, for her local Sands committee to meet. She has just finished organising her 3rd fundraising football tournament and family day and along with other ventures had raised well over £30,000.”
Louise Bibby:
“She was in labour for 14 hours and Thomas was born. She held him for 10seconds before the doctors took him away to NICU. We were told to contact the family and tell them that he was very ill and may not make it. We had Thomas Elijah’s funeral a week later and raised £1800 for the NICU in Manchester which made Louise feel a little better. She has now thrown herself in to doing a black tie charity night in memory of Thomas. Thomas Elijah Lang was born on 20/03/18 and Louise has done all this in 5 weeks. She truly is the most beautiful, kind, caring mother I’ve ever known. She has sacrificed her body and given everything for myself and Thomas to make us a family.”
Maggie Simkiss:
“Maggie and her husband Kevin lost their son Kieran at nine days old in 1992 to a rare genetic condition. Maggie set up the Hull and East Yorkshire branch of Sands in 1993. Since then the branch has gone from strength to strength. All of these fantastic things would not be happening were it not for the hard work and dedication Maggie brings. She is dedicated to her job as a Macmillan nurse as well and helps to raise 5 grandchildren, yet she still inspires others and always has time for anyone who needs help. She will often travel 30+ miles to visit bereaved families on her days off. Maggie must have helped thousands of families deal with their devastating losses.”
Marilyn Sharples:
“How can there be such a person in this world that has suffered in the worse possible ways? How she still stands on her little size 3 feet, and gets through each and every day with such inspiration and positivity – I really don’t know. She has been through the death of her 4 year old little girl. She battled through life, only to face another hit with the unbearable loss of her son Paul, who was born premature and gained his angel wings at 10 hours old. Marilyn has inspired me in many ways this past 12 months, I can’t imagine the sort of person I would be today, if she didn’t help me deal with the loss of my baby boy last year. My Charley was born premature and gave me 2 full days with him. I can honestly say the help and support I got from My Nana Marilyn was the only thing that helped me.”
Sandra McCalla:
“Andrew McCalla was still born in 2001 and Sandra McCalla dealt with it privately, no one beyond her immediate circle knowing. She was brave enough to get help but still lived in the isolating grief that this journey brings. Last year Andrew would have had his 16th birthday. Sandra refused to let this pass. She organised a charity gala ball. 16 years later Sandra wanted to help others. Knowing how alone she had felt she realised that despite suddenly feeling exposed she wanted her story, Andrews story to help others not feel alone. Despite knowing it would be painful she decided to put that aside in favour of the big picture – that of helping others. On Andrews 16th birthday Sandra stood up to show the world publicity that time means nothing to the bonds of love.”
Sarah Seddon:
“On the 10th of November 1998 Sarah was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and she became housebound due to being fed by a tube. Sarah was bullied at school for the changes in her appearance. Sarah has only had 6 months of remission in 20 years. She has been fitted with a stoma colostomy bag and only has 115cm small bowel remaining and has open wounds. Sarah will need more surgery which will lead to her being TPN tube feeding eventually. She was told she would never be a Mum & they gave her the go ahead to try for IVF. The first time failed but after perseverance she managed to fall pregnant. Every week was challenging but she didn’t complain. Sarah contracted MRSA and was hospitalised again. Sarah managed to get to 24 weeks pregnant and her cervix started to open. Close monitoring and extra care meant Sarah hung on with bed rest and managed to get to 32 weeks. Sarah & I went for lunch and she hadn’t felt the baby move so asked the midwife back at the hospital to do a scan, there was no heartbeat detected. She had to give birth to her sleeping miracle baby son Vinnie. I want the world to know how amazing she is.”
Stephanie Wild:
“Steph tragically lost her daughter Bea at 23+4 in November 2017. Within weeks, Steph had established a new charity, Beyond Bea, to deliver free bereavement care training to student midwives and maternity professionals. As a midwife herself, Steph had been very aware of the inconsistent quality and often high cost to the provision of bereavement care training. I have met some truly inspirational individuals in the four years since we became part of the baby loss community, but I am truly in awe of how much Steph has managed in such a short space of time. I know Bea will be so proud of everything her mum has done.”
Maggie is a true inspiration to others at a most dreadful time in their lives She truly deserves this award for her dedication
My vote is for Maggie Simkiss whose work for the Hull branch of SANDs goes over and above the call of duty.
Apart from her job as a McMillan nurse for the NHS, she organises raffles, cake stalls etc to raise funds for this charity.
Every Christmas she organises a candlelit service for all of our angel babies. She recently organised an event at the Humber Bridge & released live butterflies ? in memory of them all.
Maggie is a truly inspirational woman and commands total respect from all who know and love her.
I too vote for Maggie Simkiss a wonderful nurse, compassion empathy, comfort, out weighs all other beyond her duty both her patients,families she helps 110%. I know I have been her patient she never stops caring day or night.
I nominate Maggie simkiss, the most inspirational woman I have ever met! Influenced me in the early 90’s to complete my nurse training aspiring to attain some of the qualities she has demonstrated over the years. A truly dedicated nurse, mum and grandma who has turned her own family tragedy in order to benefit so many parents/families of rainbow babies, inspirational, caring,compassionate the list is endless, so proud to have Maggie as a friend
A truly inspirational woman who has dedicated herself to the well being of others. Maggie inspired me to complete my nurse training in the early 90’s in the hope that I would attain some of the qualities that she has demonstrated over the years. A selfless compassionate woman who managed to turn her own family tragedy around in order to help so many other parents/families of rainbow babies. Inspirational, compassionate, caring,the list is endless, a truly remarkable woman whom I’m proud to call my friend
Maggie is an inspiration, works tirelessly for Sands as well as her job in the NHS, nothing is too much trouble, way above the call of duty.
Maggie is a wonderful person who puts everyone before herself. She works everyday to help others in her profession and her personallife. I and many hundreds of people are blessed to have her in our lives
I would like to vote for Maggie Simkiss. Maggie’s dedication setting up and running Hull SANDS for more than 25 years, following the very sad loss of her baby son Kieran, is amazing. She has supported hundreds of parents, raised thousands of pounds, bought valuable equipment and trained lots of staff. When my baby, Sarah died at 26 hours I was heart broken, as a nurse who worked at the hospital where Sarah was born and died, I dreaded going back to work…. Maggie supported me every step of the way and remains a lovely friend.
My vote is for Stephanie Wild. She mentored me as a student midwife and cared for women and families so very well. She is a great inspiration and has strength beyond words.
I am voting for Maggie Simkiss. As a friend & Macmillan colleague I have an insight to the way that she works, especially for the SANDs group. Not many people know of the background support she gives to bereaved parents apart from those receiving her help. Her dedication and compassion are incomparable. Thank you for all the work that you do Maggie
My vote is for Maggie. A truly caring and kind lady who has helped many women over the years.
I vote for Maggie Simkiss. She has been a great support to my family over the loss of two of my granddaughters during the last four years, not to mention countless other families through Sands over the last three decades.
My vote is for Maggie Simkiss – an inspirational lady who has helped so many families in their time of need. Maggie has selflessly given up so much of her time over the last 25 years to help other bereaved parents & I can’t thank her enough for everything she’s done and everything she stands for.
I vote for Maggie Simkiss.She is an inspirational, amazing, dedicated and wonderful woman. She has helped so many families in so many ways. It’s unbelievable how much time and effort Maggie dedicates to families and without her support many families would not be where they are today. She organises fantastic events, memorial events, attends meetings, bakes, supports, cuddles, smiles and so much more. Thank you Maggie. We love You.