Rachael & Andy’s story

On 31st October 2020 I was rushed to hospital in a huge amount of pain and worried due to reduced movements from our baby, I was 37 weeks + 6 days pregnant with our first child.

The midwife looking after me could not find our babys heart beat and follow up scans with doctors confirmed the devestating news that our baby had passed away. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic Andy was unable to be with me until this point when he was eventually allowed into the hospital.

We couldnt believe what was happening and in fact why, up until this point I had had a regular pregnancy with no high risk concerns. Over the next couple of hours my health was detirioating rapidly and the doctors had to make the difficult decision to deliver our baby by ceserean section under general anasthetic. By the time I reached theatre I was critically poorly with many of my organs fighting desperatley to keep me alive.

Due to the the amazing doctors, consultants, anethsatists, midwives and nurses I woke up the following day in Intensive Care. I was diagnosed with having severe pre-eclampsia and then acute HELLP syndrome a very rare but life threatening condition in pregnancy.

When I was well enough to move back to the maternity ward, myself and Andy were able to stay in the Nightingale Suite. A suite for families dealing directly with the loss of their child. Our beautiful baby girl Heidi Anne Lee was also able to stay in this suite with us. This gave us a week to make precious memories with her, away from the outside world and allowed us as a family time to grieve whilst being with our daughter. For us this suite was a life line, without the facilty I do not know how we would have coped.

We want to raise as much money as possible for the Nightingale Suite to ensure families continue to be supported just as we were. I had many follow up appointments whilst in hospital with ensuring my vital organs were beginning to recover and having the Nightingale Suite as our base made this very scary time much more bearable.

We are looking to fundraise for the next year and will be looking to donate as much money as possible to the Nightingale Suite on what would have been Heidi’s 1st Birthday. Heidi is so loved and by doing this in her memory will give us the strength we need to move forward. She will forever be our baby girl, our first born child and our reason for pushing forward everyday. Our very own guardian angel.