In 2024 we are going to be raising funds for Tommy's Baby Charity. Tracie started it off with a Firewalk in February and a steps challenge in March. In April Mark joined Team Tommy's and ran the Manchester Marathon. Tracie completed a 60 mile challenge in June and is doing a 5k a day challenge in October.

Why Tommy's? After the birth of our son we experienced 3 miscarriages in a row. Recurrent miscarriage is rare. We have never talked openly about what we went through, the tests and investigations and the support we received. We have decided that now is the time to break the silence and talk about baby loss.

"In 2024, my first lost baby would be turning 21. The realisation of this fact has hit me harder than I thought. How can the pain still be so raw 21 years later? My story is hard to write, but now is the time to share it.

We got married in 2000 and in 2001 we welcomed our amazing son George to the world. When he turned 1, we decided to try for another baby. I wanted nothing more than to have a sibling for my George, I wanted him to have a little best friend in a brother or sister. I fell pregnant and I remember sitting with an almost 2 year old George, telling him he was going to have a brother or sister. His tiny little face lit up, he clapped his hands and gave me a hug. My heart was full.

I was about 7 weeks pregnant when I noticed something had changed. My morning sickness just disappeared, my boobs stopped hurting. Just little things that didn't feel right. I spoke to my Doctor who reassured me I was OK. At 9 weeks, I began to bleed. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I went to see my Doctor who organised an early scan. I arrived at the hospital and waited for my scan. My husband was with me and George was in his pushchair. The scan room was unbearably quiet, I went in alone as my son wasn't allowed in, which meant Mark had to wait with him. The sonographer was quiet as she did her job. She asked if my husband could come in, I don't think I could breathe, time stood still. "I'm so sorry, there's no heartbeat"6 words, 6 small words broke my heart. I was to return the next morning for day surgery. The emotions I felt were all consuming; sadness, anger, grief, frustration. I think the one thing that does stand out, was on arrival to the hospital, I was placed in a room within the maternity ward. I was in a bed in a room with pregnant women. Sitting listening to conversations about how far along they were, how smoothly things were going, what sex their baby was, the names they had chosen. I don't recall Mark being allowed to stay for too long. This traumatic experience happened again in 2009 and 2010 ".

Our lost babies would be turning 21,15 and 14 this year. Tommy's have supported us throughout and assisted with our participation in a research project at Liverpool Women's Hospital.Thank you