Our Precious Little Angel Rekha Kaur was born sleeping on 19th March2014. 

I had such an amazing pregnancy and enjoyed every minute, as my due date passed, we became more and more excited to know that we would be meeting our little bundle of joy any day now. The midwives kept telling me everything was perfect and that my baby was very happy. Once my contractions started I thought ‘great – this is it’. We couldn't wait.

We went in to the hospital and were sent home, as many parents are, as ‘I wasn’t ready’. It was less than 24hrs later that I went back in, hoping I was ready – only to be told that my baby no longer had a heartbeat. It’s that moment in life when nothing else seems to matter, all that you can think is what...when...why...how?

Sadly,stillbirth can take that most precious moment in a parents life and turn it into their biggest nightmare, this affects over 6,500 families in the uk every year and for over 50% there is no explanation. 

For us, as parents - Rekha was our 1st born and will always be with us, in our hearts and not a day goes by in which we don't think of her. We wish that she was herewith us to do all the things we planned. Even to hear her laugh or cry - I never thought I would miss changing dirty nappies and sleepless nights. 

If it wasn't for SANDs  I don't know how I would've managed to get out of bed in the morning - the charity helped us to remember the amazing 9 months we had with Rekha, and treasure her beautiful memory.

SANDS work in conjunction with other charities such as 4 Louis who provided us with a memory box full of little things; this enabled us to make a memory of Rekha during the time she was with us. The box contained a number of things that help us now. At the time, in the upset, we wouldn't have thought to make memories like we have, and only because of the items 4 Louis provide to parents we have these memories. They provide photography equipment to the hospitals and do training for staff to take photos.

Rekha’s photos are so beautiful and the midwives have been trained to take these pictures in such a way that my baby looks alive and well. I’ll never forget the midwife that took these, and am forever thankful. The box also has plaster casts so parents can keep babies hand prints and footprints, which are always a treasure to have.

One of the hardest things about loosing a child at birth is having to leave the hospital empty handed, my box gave me something to hold on to, although I didn’t leave the hospital with my baby in my arms, I walked out of the hospital proud that I was, and I am a mommy and although not how I planned, the box gave us that little bit of our baby to share with those that didn’t meet her. 

 For all parents, they are always talking about their babies, and how they grow and change through time, for parents of angels all we have are memories, it’s a proud moment for us when we can talk about our baby and have something that we can show people.

SANDS work with many other charities and hospitals to provide these boxes to parents and its an amazing job they do. It is more than just a box – it’s the part of my baby that I bought home with me.

We have an angel up there in heaven and hope that together we can raise enough money to provide awareness and support to other parents of angels.

Thank you for reading our story x