Matilda's Story

On 28th July 2013 I met the centre of my universe. With her jet black hair and sweet baby smell, Miss Matilda Margaret Ruth Gray had arrived. When Matilda was just 5 days old, our world fell apart as the alien words "Edward's Syndrome, Trisomy 18" echoed round my head and tore out my heart.... It was as though I was being hit by a freight train to my soul's core, to hear that our newborn daughter's life was "limited".

After 14 days in the neonatal unit, we brought Matilda home. During the "amazing 90 days of miss Matilda Gray" we made thousands of memories, She went to the duck pond and the beach. She heard the birds sing and felt the summer sun and the autumn breeze. However, I remember the immense fear that Matilda would not get the chance to go home, and our heartfelt wish to give Matilda as many "normal" experiences as possible whilst in the neonatal unit.

It is my MISSION to help other families of extra special bundles by raising funds to provide LOVE MATILDA's "MARVELLOUS MEMORY BOX” to babies living with life limiting conditions in ALL neonatal units of Northern Ireland.

Love Matilda's : Marvellous Memory Boxes

Each beautiful box is lovingly packed with personal, pretty and practical gifts to celebrate baby, and send love and support during an emotionally overwhelming, but immensely treasured time for mummy, daddy and baby.

-VEST, BABYGROW, HAT, SCRATCH MITS (either 3/4/5 lb)

-KNITTED BLANKY, CARDIGAN & HAT

-BABY PHOTO FRAME (for family photos)

-NOTEPAD & PEN (for milestones such as baby opened her left eye today)

-NURSERY RHYME BOOK & GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU BOOK

-MUMMY BEAR,DADDY BEAR, BABY BEAR (gift for everyone)

-SOFT IMPRINT KIT for 3D imprints

-INK PRINT KIT for hand and footprints

-I LOVE MUMMY heart (as Mummy deserves a little something)

-I LOVE DADDY socks (as Daddy deserves a little something)

-4 BONDING SQUARES (to calm baby with parent's smell in incubator)

-CANVAS and PAINTS (& art ideas leaflet) for arty adventures for baby

-3 MICRO NAPPIES

-BREAST PADS

The boxes are already available in the Ulster Hospital, through the Forget Me Not Group, where they originated. Love Matilda's: Marvellous Memory Boxes are now also available in Craigavon Area Hospital.

Since MMM Boxes campaign launched on 28 July 2016, we've raised over £8000 through the kindness and generosity of lovely people like YOU and

From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU SO SO MUCH for caring & sharing.

Love Claire (Matilda's Mummy) xoxox