*Please note this is a follow on page from our previous Crowdfunding - due to it now being expired. Please use this page to donate. Remaining funds left to target is £800! Previous page link below* xox

Violets Wishes Previous Crowd funding Page

We are Grace and Ashley Banham proud parents of Violet Esme who was born sleeping on 28th October 2017.

Going through loss is heartbreaking and something we weren't expecting, in October 2017 myself and my husband gave birth to our daughter Violet Esme who was born with no heartbeat. At over 41 weeks pregnant this never crossed my mind, It was the day our hearts got broken into a thousand pieces. Each day goes by living a life without out our daughter, its a very difficult path to walk down but some how we are. I believe that Violet was brought it our lives to give us purpose and carry on sharing her story and spreading awareness, hopefully helping others.

After Violet was born I decided to start writing a blog to raise awareness on stillbirths and share my story to others to let them know that 'we are not alone'. It came to light that it is certainly more common than everyone think's but there is so much taboo around stillbirths, everyone thinks its something you 'dont dicuss'. After writing my blog, Instagram and facebook page by spreading awareness this way i felt I wanted to do more, therefore I decided to set up a fund for Violet

Violets Wishes will be a fund to raise awareness and give something back to bereaved parents, starting with providing a new camera to the Bereavement Suite at the birthing centre.

So where did it all begin

The butterfly Suite is a place where we stayed as a family of 3 after Violet was born.The suite is made for parents who have lost a baby either through miscarriage or stillbirth the room is comfortable with its own bathroom and kitchen to help with the first few days of loss. Whilst here we were kindly asked if we would like photos taken of us once Violet was born, skin to skin contact just like a 'regular birth' after all I gave birth like any other mother. Having these memories and photos is something really important to parents who give birth especially for us as bereaved parent's.

To give something back to the bereavement team we wanted to provide the suite with a new up to date camera and memory cards therefore the midwives have the confidence to take photos and capture these special moments for parents.

The Butterfly suite where we stayed had been set up by a charity, building these suites, providing a camera, memory cards and memory boxes are NOT funded by the NHS they are funded by donations. As parents we were lucky to have been able to be provided with this kind of care as most hospitals don't have any form of suite for bereaved parents.

As well as providing a new camera to the team we wanted to donate other parts of the funds to:

SANDS Charity

Are an amazing charity they are one of the charity's who have now become close to our heart and with the ongoing support the last 8 months would of been more difficult than it has by raising awareness of stillbirths who help bereaved parents like myself by providing leaflets, a helpline and have local support groups as well as on social media. Sands is a UK charity that works across the country to support anyone affected by the death of a baby; improve the care bereaved parents receive from health care and other professionals; and reduce the number of babies who do die by funding research and working closely with other organisations to create a world where fewer babies die.

SANDS

Group B Strep Support

Group B Strep Support is a UK charity working to stop group B Strep (GBS) infection in babies. They are an amazing charity who provide there own leaflets to the NHS, they are also one of the only charity's in the UK to raise awareness of Group B Strep. They educate new and expectant parents, doctors, and midwives about group B strep and provide information and support to affected families. Providing help and support to families, especially parents, suffering from the devastating consequences of GBS infection. Also helping new and expectant parents wanting more information about testing and how to reduce the risk of GBS infection for their baby, campaigning to improve awareness of group B Strep infection and for the introduction of effective and accurate testing. The charity actively supports GBS research and contributes to UK guidelines on GBS, working with the relevant bodies.

GBSS

Sepsis UK Trust

Sepsis UK Trust have some of the best team members including ambassador children's doctor Dr Ranj the team seeks to save lives and improve outcomes for survivors of sepsis by instigating political change, educating healthcare professionals, raising public awareness and providing support for those affected by this devastating condition. Our critical expertise is based on the charity’s grassroots origins – our doctors and nurses have front line, first-hand experience of the sepsis problem; their passion is born of a uniquely comprehensive understanding of what needs to be done.

Sepsis UK Trust

We are hoping to raise as much funds as possible (I would love to raise more than our target!) to provide mainly a new camera and memory cards but also enough funds to go to the other chosen charity's, hopefully raising at least our target of £2000. It is my aim to raise as much awareness as possible and keep Violets name alive by doing so.

Ashley decided he wanted to give something back to the people who have had the time to donate into Violets Fund, read our story and help raise awareness too. He came up with the idea of purple heart hand made pin badge's. Anyone who donates on request will receive one to say thank you (minimum donation £2.50 please message me or Ashley via social media or the email address below to confirm you would like a pin badge sending with your name and postal address) to you who have kindly donated any amount into the fund. Extra pin badges can also be purchased via paypal through one of us directly, all monies goes directly into Violet Wishes.

Any amount of donations are very grateful, if your morning coffee costs you £2 maybe you could help save a babies life or help a bereaved parent by donating this money to Violets Fund.

I hope this has touched your heart just like Violet has touched ours, thank you for spending the time to read and donate.

If you would like to read more on our story click on the links below.

Blog

Instagram

Facebook

grace.evemua@hotmail.com

Grace, Ashley & Violet xox