In May 2008 our daughter Iris was stillborn. She died of unknown causes during early labour a week after her due date.

As the anniversary of her death approaches we have decided to set up a fund for  the Birmingham Women's Hospital to honour her memory. We are so grateful for the incredible support we received from everyone at the Women's while Jess was in labour and in those first painful days and weeks after we lost Iris:

To Sandy, the midwife who had the painful task of telling us that our baby's heart had stopped beating: you showed such incredible compassion and sensitivity in what must have been an unbearably difficult task. Thank you.

To Lisa, the midwife who stayed with us through the night, who answered our endless questions, who told the anaesthetist to hurry up with that epidural. Thank you.

To the on-call doctor whose name I can't remember, who helped me trust my body to deliver Iris, even when I felt nothing but guilt and blame towards it. Thank you.

To Coralie, the midwife who delivered Iris, who bathed and dressed her, who told us that we'd had a lttle girl, who cried along with us as we held her little body, who encouraged us to take millions of photos, who made prints of her hands and feet for us. Thank you.

To Marguerita, the bereavement midwife who went through the 'next steps' with us the day after Iris was born with such patience and empathy. Thank you.

To Matthew, the consultant obstetrician who talked us through the post-mortem process (and has subsequently taken care of Jess during her current pregnancy) with an enormous amount of sensitivity. Thank you.

To Karen, the bereavement midwife who took us to see Iris in the chapel of rest and let us dress her and photograph her and hold her one last time. Thank you.

And to the countless others from BWH who were there to support us in so many different ways. Thank you so much.

* * * * * *

After Iris died, we asked that people didn't send us cards or flowers. If you would have liked to, but didn't because we'd said not to please donate the money you would have spent in Iris' memory to this amazing institution.

Thanks and love,

Jess, David and Ava