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My Plea:
Hi my name is Sarah and I had my Daughter Maggie on 30th June 2015. Maggie was born sleeping at 39 weeks and 5 days gestation!
I was told I would never be able to “conceive naturally” so when I fell pregnant it was an amazing shock and miracle!! My pregnancy went well, and I was very strict and did everything “by the book”.
My Husband and I heard Maggie’s heartbeat on the Saturday (at a routine check up), I felt and saw her moving on the Sunday and on the Monday morning at 11am there was no heartbeat (my appointment with my midwife). I was rushed to 
Burnley Hospital for a scan where it was confirmed that Maggie had died, I was 2 days before my due date! I then had to go through a 36 hour labour that resulted in me being taken for a Caesarean section as I couldn’t give birth naturally. We were asked if we would like the radio on in theatre which I said yes too, as I knew there would be no cry or noise as there should be when your baby is born. At 8:33pm when the surgeon said Maggie had been born it was like the whole theatre fell silent, “let it be” by the Beetles was playing, Mark my Husband was by my side every step of the way as were some of my other family members.
We then got to spend three precious days with Maggie, my family flew over from Spain to meet their granddaughter and niece! This was all thanks to a “cuddle cot” which Maggie was placed in. This is a bespoke cot with a “cold unit” underneath which preserves the baby so that parents and family can spend time with, and make precious memories with their angel babies.
Whilst I was in the hospital I was made aware of other babies that had also been born sleeping. It was so upsetting to hear that, at that time, there was only one other cold cot available for these families to use and so, some would not get that time to create memories. To know that those parents and families didn’t get that special time with their babies destroyed me. Cuddle cot’s are sadly only provided by hospitals which have had a cot donated to them and the space to accommodate one! I left hospital not only with the grief of losing my own child but, also the added sadness that not every angel parent received the time, which I had been fortunate of having with Maggie due to her being in the cold cot. I had it in my mind that I wanted every single hospital to have one or more of these cots!!
After dealing with and trying to get through Maggie’s funeral, I then focussed my grief on raising funds to provide hospital’s with the cold cots and raising awareness around the taboo subject of stillbirth. Since losing Maggie three years ago I have worked tirelessly and have not stopped raising awareness and funds to go towards stillbirth, pregnancy and child loss and supporting others in the same situation as myself and my Husband.
Due to th
e cot’s being specifically designed specialised unit’s they are very expensive and, with every cot that is donated to hospital’s, I also make up and donate 50 memory boxes which, parents use to make special memories with their angel babies. These include such items as, hand and footprints, a teddy bear to send with their baby and a matching one for them to keep, a handmade angel keyring, dog tag which reads “Daddy to an angel”, forget me not seeds and many other items. So far I have raised enough funds for cot’s to be donated to: Royal Blackburn Hospital Paediatric department, Royal Blackburn Hospital A&E Department, Wolverhampton NICU, Derian House, Altys Funeral Home, Cooperative Funeral Home Accrington and CHAMPS Funeral Home.
I have also created a support group which I run monthly. Anyone is welcome to come along to this group for emotional support and to be in the company of others who have experienced loss whether it be their own child, their niece or nephew or grandchild. This group is called “Families of flying angels” and is very well attended. I support people via online sources such as social media and, I am regularly contacted by families, world wide, who request memory boxes and support. This can be from a recent loss or, indeed a loss from many years ago which, they have been unable to or not given the chance to talk about.
When I started this journey I didn’t realise sadly, how common stillbirth and child loss is, so I also created and opened “The 
secret garden” which is located in Pleasington Cemetery in Blackburn. This is a place for parents and families to remember their babies and children that have gained their angel wings. It is a peaceful area of protected land and each person can collect a butterfly stone off me with their babies name on and place around the tree which is in the centre of the land.
With the funds I raise I have helped many different hospital’s and causes including donating £1000 towards the cost of refurbishing a counselling room on the Gynaecology unit at Burnley hospital. Donating £2000 towards the medapor scanner that can detect causes of concern which a normal ultra sound scan cannot do. This could potentially prevent losses which can be treated by detection from this specialised scanner.
£2,300 towards creating a “quiet room” at Burnley General hospital for ladies and their families who will be told the devastating news that they have terminal cancer. A place for the families to go and sit when they need to gather their thoughts or just take time out. £3000 towards a cuddle blanket for loss of older children aged between 4 years and 16 years, along with 40 memory boxes, this was donated to Royal Blackburn Hospital.
To list everything which I have raised funds for would take some time and, I am conscious that I would like you to read through to the end of this plea. I have contributed towards many other causes as I want to help, support and raise awareness for these issues.
I will never end this mission, this is in memory of my beautiful daughter Maggie and in her name I will not stop until there have been things put into place to either prevent, or support bereaved families of stillbirth and loss. I work closely with local and national press in order to raise awareness as much as I possibly can. I will continue to raise funds for hospitals and cold cot’s throughout the Country and, have devoted my life to raising awareness and supporting others. I would like to thank you so much for taking the time to read this plea. I appreciate so much any votes which I receive and, I am overwhelmed to be nominated for such a prestigious award in recognition of the work I am and will continue to do.
Please take a few moments to watch this short video. Thank you.
Jade Hudson
When you get asked to write a testimony about someone you know it’s really hard to know where to start from. First of all Sarah you are one amazing lady and one amazing mummy. You have helped me in more ways you can ever imagine. Not only were we friends before all this happened but we become closer when the worse thing imaginable could ever happen to a parent. The loss of a child is the most heart breaking thing to ever happen and you sarah have worked through your grief to help others. I know along with everyone else that your pain is with you every day but you hide your tears and do all these amazing things to rise money to help others spend there last treasured moments with there babies no matter what age they are when they gained their wings. When Billy was in his finals hours and I rang u for one of your lovely boxes and you never hesitated and stayed up untill 12am as this was the only time we could pick it up with being in Alder hey. That box let me take pictures and take hand and foot prints of Billy and without the box I would never have through about doing these things. As you know Sarah Billy fought for 13 long days but sadly gave up and went to heaven and you was with me everyday messaging and ringing me to making sure I was ok. This never stopped even after the passed away and after his funeral, you still made sure I was ok. This is when you set the group up as you noticed it was more common than you ever thought and what a lovely group it is. It’s helped me through some bad times when I bottle everything up and never talk to anyone, the group has been there and I’ve never felt bad or wrong for what ever I’m thinking or feeling so thank you Sarah for letting me be apart of these amazing things you do and thank you for helping people like me try and deal with our grief. Also the butterfly garden is such a lovely idea because a lot of us don’t have any where to go to light a candle or lay some flowers and the garden brings so much happiness and love to people. Sometimes I wonder where you get all this strength from but I know it’s because your a mummy and Maggie will be so proud of you just like I am. Your an angel and I’m proud to say my friend to.
Mrs Patel
Sarah has been a great help to me after she lost maggie she made a group for those who needed someone to talk to and raised money for cold cots memory boxes, cancer patients and many other things but i lost my son 5 year before all this had started i felt stuck had no one to talk to was in severe depression id talk to my family but as a muslim we dont grieve for long we accept its from god and have to learn to accept the loss and stay strong but i had twins adil and adnan i had adnan to look at everyday and had no adil which i wanted so badly and then i had my daughter i got depression again and i found sarah on facebook with her fundraising then she started being there for me when i needed someone to talk to now i know her so well that i actually call her up on my down days and talk to her like shes part of my family and if she were not there i would find it hard to talk openly about this sarah has really made a difference
What Other’s Have Said
“Sarah is continually fundraising, and tirelessly gives her precious time and effort to reach out to a variety of projects ensuring that any area which can benefit from her help is supported in some way, no matter how small. Some of her projects have included the development and furnishing of a quiet room for families within the gynaecology ward, donation for a counselling room, memory boxes, knitted cushions and blankets for the paediatric ward and the accident and emergency department. Sarah has also been pivotal in creating a facebook support page for bereaved parents.”
Sarah is doing an amazing thing helping other mummies ❤️
Sarah is an amazing lady and an amazing mummy to Maggie, the help and support she gives others is so selfless, she goes above and beyond. I attend the monthly group set up by Sarah and it’s a little lifeline, the group has helped me so much. Thank you Sarah for everything you do xx
My daughter 1st told me of Sarah the day maggie was actially born.. I didnt know sarah then but it still broke my heart as my daughter was due to give birth not long after sarah… I found myself constantly thinking of sarah and her sad loss
.So when she started her fb auction site in memory of maggie i felt it was the least i could do to bid on items to help her raise the funds for her cause… i have since become good friends with sarah and im just in awe of her fighting spirit to keep Maggie’s legacy alive.. She truly is one beautiful inspirational lady
Sarah Bernasconi she is amazing..because she is always ready to help other angel mummies .
you are simply amazing Sarah and mark Maggie pearl will forever be immensely proud of her mummy and daddy. you deserve to win this award as you have helped so so many people whilst grieving for your own baby girl. good luck you will smash it and your beautiful Maggie will be with you every step of the way xxxx
sarah has helped so many famies with Angel babies, giving support and love when its needed the most
You truly are an inspiration Sarah, to all the Mummies of Rainbow Babies,and the tireless work you do raising money for the cold cots to be placed in the hospitals,god bless you, and everything you do x
sarah is truely amazeying lady her andy her hubby mark andy her stepson oliver wat they do to keepey maggie memory alivey is so grety she helpeyed so many pople in her lifey andy that seys someyfinkey abouty sarah she has so much strengh to mekeysurey al familys havey that quality timey wiv there babys andy also the memory boxeys she does to are so impotanty to the familys of the agle babys keepey doying wat u doying sarah i hopey u win it as u deseveve it
You are such an amazing strong person and Maggie is so proud of u. Xxxx
Sarah your absloute diamond ? the way you help other angel mummies & there families is amazing.xx
Sarah is an amazing lady I myself have lost a baby to cot death and Sarah has been my rock when I lost my baby there was no support and now their is Sarah works so hard to help angel mummy’s and she is a true inspiration
Sarah and her husband have helped so many famlies with all they do they are a very special couple still going through the heart ache themselves but they still carry on doing what they do and support other famlies that have had their heart broken good luck to you both xx xx
Maggie was the angel that brought me and her mummy Sarah and daddy Mark together. At first it was a professional relationship – I remember that day so clearly; the song that was playing, the silence in the theatre and the tears that were spent. But I also remember their resilience and their determination to try and help others. I was in awe. Here, a friendship between us was born.
Both Sarah and Mark work tirelessly for the families of East Lancashire in Maggies name and I’m so proud to call them my friends. Sarah is fiercely loyal, understanding, trustworthy, and one of the nicest people I know who would give you her last dime if it would help someone else in need. She puts so much effort into fundraising and she should be acknowledged and rewarded by winning this award.
I wish you all the luck in the world my beautiful friend – you are a true winner in our hearts!! Xxx
.
As a nanny to our angel Annie
We have found and have used the cold cot which Sarah has worked so hard to achieve
And also our angywas delivered in a non clinical room
She’s an inspiration
Sarah is a lovely lady. She is so kind and giving. What she and her husband are doing is amazing, allowing other parents precious time xx
Sarah, you are 1 in a million.
So glad to know you although we always say we wish we had never met under such circumstances!
You have done so much to help others, I don’t know where your strength comes from.
Bless you xxx?
One word for Sarah and Mark…. Amazing with a capital A xx
Most people would hide away(and I bet these 2 have felt like it so many times) but they are fighters and they provide so much support for others who are going through such an ordeal x having 2 children myself I cannot imagine what they must have gone through but Jesus if oxford put a picture in the dictionary of what warrior would look like these peoples faces would stare back xxx
Sarah is an amazing lady. she has helped so many other people. I hope she wins this award as I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone more deserving. Xx good luck Sarah xx
Your an absolute inspiration, i feel blessed to be a part of your group, Maggie’s legacy will certainly live on with a special mummy like you ?????
Sarah and mark are fantastic people
They have help so many family’s to have more time with there angle baby’s and also to give money in magpies name to other charities and making memory boxes an insperation to us all
I don’t know Sarah personally but i know she does some great things and is always raising money to help people which is truly inspirational x
Sarah and Mark work tirelessly to raise money a for various causes and I admire their dedication
Good luck Sarah you are truely amazing with all you do for Maggie-Pearls Legacy to helping other angel mummys/family’s! Your doing your baby girl proud! Xx
Sarah you are a truly amazing woman and such an inspiration to others Maggie would be so proud
Sarah is a truly amazing woman all the lives she has touched and the support she has given to so many other angel mummies and daddies is out of this world all while going through the heartbreak of her own!! Your beautiful Maggie will be so proud of you lots of love xx
I think Sarah is one of the most inspiring people I know she never stops trying to help others in anyway she can
A truly inspirational person who has had a traumatic time but now has been helping and raising funds to help others to who have had to go through the experience. I totally admire her deciation to doing this and all her hard workthat’s she puts in. Well done Sarah x
My Sister and Brother in law! There are no words to describe the pain I saw them suffering when we lost Maggie…I honestly didn’t know how they would cope going fowards. To then go on to achieve what they have and for Sarah to have the determination to continue fundraising is an inspiration to everyone!! She is my inspiration! She deserves to win this in recognition of her achievements.
Hi Elizabeth
Please have a look at http://www.arc4health.com.
Although we have made this available, and have Regulatory Approval for use for ” Pain ” and for ” Tissue Repair ‘, during our 16 years of research and anecdotal use we have witnessed success in several other clinical areas.
One of these areas, where we have seen success in more than 10 cases, is for women and for couples who have been refused IVF treatment.
I would welcome the opportunity of chatting with you regarding Sarah and Mark’s situation, with a view to loaning them a unit.
This involves no drugs, is non invasive and sub-sensory. It cannot be felt by any animal.
Please feel free to text me on 07710 496252 / email me at ian.thirkell@arc-family.com, with a contact number and I will give you a call to give you a full explanation, and answer any question that you might have
Kind regards
Ian
She is a angle her self fantastic lady and vey kind she will do anything for any one xxxxx
Knowing sarah for a lot of years and seeing everything she is doing in Maggies legacy is unbelievable. When I heard the news I was heartbroken as I was pregnant at the same time (Few months apart) and as you do have the same moans as most pregnant women do to each other. I remember seeing Sarah in town when I had my son and my heart just dropped cause I didn’t want to upset her but she walked over to me looked straight in the pram and asked if she could hold him she took him out and give him the biggest cuddle ever. I will never forgot that day Sarah ? Through her own grief she is putting others first and still raising the money and helping where she can for other families that are going through the same as herself. I can’t begin to imagine how she does it loosing a baby must be the most devastating thing ever but here you are Sarah putting other angel parents before yourself and making sure they have torn with there angels just how you did with Maggie. Your really are a true inspirational lady who a million percent deserves this award. ?xxxx
I met Sarah for the first time the other day she made me a memory box for my angle baby that I lost 20 years ago she has given me the confidence to say his name and for the first time it was wonderful to have someone acknowledge him she is a true angel I believe that you met people at a time in your life when you need them this year I have found it harder battling my what ifs so meeting Sarah has been a blessing I will treasure my box always
God bless you x
I first met Sarah after buying something from her auction site after talking to her I confided in her about loosing my daughter Rachael 25yrs ago to cot death the support she gave me is something I will never forget just the other day it was my daughter’s 25th birthday she took the time to post on the support group to remember my little girl the way she goes out of her way to support other angel parents is second to none honestly Sarah if you read this thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for all you say and do xxx you are truly an amazing lady xx
Sarah should win
When I first met Sarah I was in a really dark place after losing my twins the year before we met at are babies resting places were I was having a break down as my twins grave was amess when a stranger (sarah ) just grab me and hugged me like she new what I needed without telling her and it was just what I needed we just stood there hugging for ages I then became friends with Sarah threw Facebook and she started up a great group for angel parents at first I wouldn’t go then one day this beautiful lady turned up at my door and got me to go to group and I have to say was the best thing I ever did I got support from othere like me who had lost there babies as well I go to ever group now Sarah has helped me deal with losing the twins in her own way she has such a big heart and will do anything she can to help if she can between Maggie pearl page and then group she is truly amazing I can’t thank her enough for aLloyd the help and support she has given me over these past 3 years xxxxx
I have known Sarah since we were both at school together. Throughout the years we stayed friendly, but didn’t share the same friendship circle.
Knowing of her struggles to conceive, we all rejoiced when Sarah got pregnant and waited excitedly for the birth of baby Maggie-Pearl. When I got the message to say that Maggie-Pearl had passed away, it was heart breaking because she was a baby who we all knew was deeply loved and wanted.
How Sarah got through the following months is a mystery, but she did. In the face of momentous grief, this woman picked herself up and thought of everyone but herself. She stood up to child loss and swore that it wouldn’t define her as a person, because she was so much more than that. She was, and is a Mum.
Like any Mum she wanted the best for her daughter and worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone remembered her name. People hear the name Maggie-Pearl and instantly think about good things, the butterfly gardens, the memory boxes, the special rooms for families who need them.
All of the people shortlisted are deserving winners, but not everyone can say that they have touched as many lives as Sarah has.
Good luck Sarah xx
This amazing women and mummy to Maggie has helped me through my loss of my son jorge who was born 16 weeks premature and survived 37 days alone, we went to a hospice and spent an extra 6 days with him because we had a cuddle cot, we got to do everything parents do. Sarah has helped me so much going through our loss, she inspired me to be happy again and now i am marrying jorges dad in 8 weeks time. Xx
Blows me away with how Sarah carries on and how much she does for others…. a true angel on earth. And deserves some back… her strength astounds me…
Xxxx
Sarah is truly an inspirational woman who goes above and beyond for so many people, I think she is so courageous because I could never imagine the pain that she must go through each and every day. But she helps so many people and guides them, it really is such a beautiful thing for her to do. My mum is one of Sarah’s friends and loosing our little brother at just 5 months old Sarah and my mum speak about my brother and my mums been to her group too. I appreciate that my mum has someone to talk to, that understands her pain and I think that’s important for them both to have someone that understands them. I believe that Sarah deserves the world because she is doing something simply amazing ❤ love you lots Sarah, Thankyou for being you because you’re amazing ❤
What an incredible legacy you are building in honour of your angel baby Maggie. Sarah deserves to win the award as despite the tragic loss of her daughter and the grief she faced this has not stopped her from wanting to ease the pain and help others who have faced the same loss. The amount of commitment, effort and success in providing equipment and support when people are facing the most devastating of experiences is truly remarkable. What Sarah is doing is giving those parents the chance to acknowledge and make the most of the precious memories of the short but most precious and important time spent with their angel babies. Through her work Maggie lives on and do all the tiny lives she has helped. Such an inspiration and Sarah is bringing a small sunbeam of hope in the darkest circumstances.
Sarah has worked to fundraise tirelessly putting her own personal problems to aside to help other Angel parents for the last few years. This lady is nothing short of wonder woman! She’s an amazing inspiration to many, a true rock in the community, also fundraising to help support local charitable causes and local projects also helping those in need.
Long may Maggie’s legacy reign! I’m very blessed to know this wonderful lady! Xxx
Sarah is one truely amazing woman, angel on earth whose dedicated to helping others, god bless you, maggies legacy will certainly live on. Xx
What an amazing lady putting others first after the heartbreak she went through. Sarah definitely deserves to win this award for all her hard work X
Amazing lady I lost my beautiful girl Joanne over 30 years ago and I so wished there would have been a cuddle cot around them .so I was totally blown away when I received one of Sarah’s memory boxes via a friend of mine .it brought so much happiness to me that I could look at the items inside and know that they were given to me with a whole lot of love .Thank you Sarah from the bottom of my heart ? xxx
There are no words to describehow amazing & string both Sarah & Mark are xxxxx
Such an inspirational lady. I hope this award is given to her and her team.
Sarah is a fantastic woman, kind and caring putting others needs before her own in the name of her beloved daughter Maggie Pearl. It is a privilege to know Sarah and she is loved and respected very much. She will always fight tirelessly for others putting her own needs last. She has raised awareness of still birth together with raising tens of thousands for charities. An amazing woman xxx