1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss - this is a fact that my wife and I read following the loss of our son, George Baker. It shocked us that this was a statistic in the UK and not in a 3rd world country. 

Our experience of this began on the Friday before Mothers Day 2022, like most other expecting parents, we couldn't wait until our 20 week scan to find out the sex of our baby and so we attended a private gender scan. Within 30 seconds of the scan commencing we could tell by the sonographers face that something was wrong and it was then we were told to make our way to hospital immediately. A day that was meant to be one of the most exciting days of our lives to date ended in us being told our baby will not be compatible with life and that we are to come back Monday morning for 'compassionate induction'. 

Heartbroken and confused to what had gone wrong we made our way back to the hospital on Monday morning and unexpectedly after a brief meeting with a consultant we was told that our baby had a very small chance of survival, we was sent home to "wait and see what happened". With the small hope that we had, we pushed for a referral to UCHL to see a specialist and just two days later we went to London for our appointment where our worst case scenario was confirmed. 

On the 14th April 2022, George was born at 21 weeks in the Blossom Suite at Broomfield Hospital. We were completely oblivious to the fact that most hospitals have a delivery room dedicated to bereavement, let alone all the equipment required for this. We was fortunate enough to spend the night with George after he passed and even got a chance to revisit him to say our final goodbye a few days later, all thanks to Sophie from the Blossom Suite and the specialist equipment that they provide.

My goal is to raise £2,000 for The Blossom Suite so they can continue to provide the support and equipment for bereaved families to make memories in the short time they have with their babies. One of the many things they currently require is a professional camera for photos to be taken, something you don't realise the importance of until you leave the hospital with just a memory box.

At the time of writing this, I am currently over 2 1/2 stone over weight and have become the punchline to all of my friends many fat jokes. I think I may have spent too long inside with my thoughts but I have signed up to run:

10k Tough Mudder on Saturday 13th August, with my Brother Harry

The Big Half London on Sunday 4th September

Chelmsford Marathon on Sunday 16th October 

The Olympic Park Half Marathon on Sunday 27th November, with my Dad Paul

That is 93k/58miles, all in memory of my son George! Any donation would be greatly appreciated by Tori & I and all the families that have sadly had to use these facilities past and present.

I would like to thank the staff at the fetal medicine unit at University College Hospital London, Broomfield Hospital, the midwives that looked after us when George was born and Sophie from the Blossom Suite team.

Thank you for listening to my story

Jack