Story
<p>Many of you will already know this story, others may not.</p>
<p>On the 18th May 2011 my wife Hazel was due to give birth to our first children, twin boys by C-section. We had waited with such anticipation for this day ever since the first scan and we discovered that we were expecting twins!!</p>
<p>We waited in theatre for what seemed an age as they wanted the results of some bloods they had taken before they could begin the surgery. We laughed and joked with all of the staff, talked about the names we had for our boys, and talked about how difficult life would be with twins. We were excited and nervous at the same time, ready to meet our boys!</p>
<p>Eventually they got Hazel prepared with a spinal and everyone took their place for the birth.</p>
<p>The whole experience was rather strange, they erected a screen so that we were seperated from surgeons and the blood. It was very much like being in a tent on a windy day as the surgeons wrestled to pull out my boys. After about 10 mins I caught the first glimpse of my first born, Malachi. They wrapped him up in a towel and handed him to me, I was a Dad! Before I knew it they had taken him from me as they said he was looking a little grey and needed a little oxygen. I sat once again at Hazel's head and tried to comfort her that all was ok.</p>
<p>After a short time Hazel asked "Where's Reuben," I tried to reassure her that all was fine and said they must still be trying to get him out. In all the commotion of being handed Malachi I hadn't noticed that Reuben had been born already. When I looked across the room I could see him lying motionless on the resucitair.</p>
<p>Once again I tried to reassure Hazel that all was fine while I tried to take in what was happening. The Doctors were all stood by Reuben, but nothing was being done to him. I looked for Malachi and he was moving about while the midwife tried to give him some oxygen through a mask. By this point Hazel was getting restless and grew more and more worried.</p>
<p>Then one of the doctors walked over and looked over the screen, "Twin 1 is fine" she said, "but twin 2 has been dead a couple of days" and walked away. No explanation, no apology...Our world collapsed. Hazel screamed and I sat there in complete shock, this was not supposed to be how it ended. The atmosphere in the theatre changed and everyone was in shock. </p>
<p>We were moved to a room and we spent time with both of our sons. We then had the task of telling everyone what had happened, it was a hard task and such a bittersweet time, we had the celebration of new life and the mourning at the same time. </p>
<p>We were overwhelmed by the support that we received family and friends were very supportive and offered what love and practical support they could, all of which we could not have coped without. </p>
<p>We received a memory box from 4Louis to help us come to terms with the loss of Reuben and to make sure we had some keepsakes, whilst it was hard to leave hospital without him at least we had a little bit of comfort knowing we had a picture, a handprint and a blanket that had his scent on. </p>
<p>I want to help 4Louis to help others who find themselves in our position, nothing can stop the hurt and pain but the memory boxes can provide some comfort and will definately play a part in keeping our babies' memory alive. </p>
<p>So I have set myself the challenge with my brother in law, Ainsley Callaghan, to ride 150 miles coast to coast on a pink and blue/his & hers tandem!! We are going to be doing this in fancy dress, as a bride and groom! We hope to raise as much money as possible. Please sponsor us what you can to help get boxes to all those that need them. </p>