🕯️In Memory of Ada

We are completely heartbroken to have lost our beautiful daughter, Ada, at just 17 days old. She brought so much love into our lives during her short time with us, and we want to honour her memory in a way that reflects the courage, strength and determination she showed us all.

We are raising money in Ada’s name to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Evelina London (St Thomas' Hospital) (special purpose fund SPF32500). The remarkable team there gave us precious time with Ada and cared for her, and for us, with so much kindness and compassion.

This page was initially set up as a way of marking Ada's funeral on Tuesday 24th June, which was a small, private service. Since then, we have decided we would like to keep the fundraising ongoing. We hope this space can grow into Ada's legacy - a place where our family, friends and wider communities can honour her memory in the months and years to come. Whether it's a donation on her birthday or at Christmas, in place of the gifts we wish we could give her, or supporting physical challenges like walks, runs or bike rides in her name, this page will remain open. It will be a way of symbolising the love Ada brought into the world and how deeply she touched so many people in her short life.

Ada's legacy will continue to support other babies and families at St Thomas' NICU - a place that, though filled with heartbreak, gave us our most cherished moments with our beautiful daughter.

🌸 Ada’s Story

Ada was born on Saturday 3rd May at 8:26am, weighing 5lb 8oz and delivered by emergency C-section following a long induction. She was born at 38 weeks and 6 days, and despite a straightforward pregnancy, it quickly became clear that she was struggling to breathe.

The medical team at the Royal Surrey Hospital worked tirelessly to stabilise her, initially suspecting a heart condition. That same day, Ada was transferred by specialist ambulance to St Thomas’ Hospital, with Daddy by her side.

There, we learned that Ada was suffering from Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN) - a condition that prevents blood from circulating properly through the lungs. She required intensive treatment, including ventilation, nitric oxide, and several medications. Thanks to the dedication of the NICU team, Ada began to recover quite quickly.

By Wednesday 7th May, Ada was taken off the ventilator and we were finally able to cuddle our daughter for the very first time - a moment we will never forget. We moved with her to the High Dependency Unit, where she began feeding, wore her first baby grow, and we allowed ourselves to start dreaming of bringing her home.

But on Sunday 11th May, Ada deteriorated suddenly and returned to the NICU. Over the following days, her condition worsened, and by Wednesday 14th, we were told she was on maximum support. The doctors believed at this point there may be an underlying incurable genetic cause.

We spent precious time by her side - reading stories, singing, and repeatedly telling her how loved she was. Ada had moments of stability where we were able to cling onto hope, but her oxygen levels began to drop dangerously low from Sunday 18th May. On the morning of Tuesday 20th May, as her heart rate began to fall, we knew it was time to say goodbye.

Ada passed away in Nick’s arms, wrapped in love, after seventeen of the most meaningful days of our lives.

💗 About Ada’s Condition: PPHN

PPHN (Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn) affects roughly 2 in every 1,000 babies, but over 90% recover well with appropriate treatment. For the few who do not survive, it is often due to an identifiable cause such as sepsis or a rare genetic condition.

In Ada’s case, her genome sequencing has not revealed a genetic cause, and although there were some signs of infection at birth, this is not thought to have caused her condition.

Her post-mortem results have revealed a very rare condition called pulmonary vascular remodeling as the underlying cause. This is an irreversible, structural alteration in the walls of the pulmonary arteries, where the vessel layers thicken and prevent blood flow between the lungs and heart. This is why the pulmonary hypertension that Ada experienced never settled. The doctors believe that the premature closure of the ductus arteriosus (a blood vessel within the heart that should close shortly after birth) whilst she was in the womb is the cause of the pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Ada's case is extremely rare and tragic, made even more cruel because Ada seemed so perfect and healthy throughout pregnancy.

✨ Why We’re Fundraising

We are raising money in Ada’s memory to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Thomas’ Hospital – the place that become our world for 17 days. The team fought tirelessly for Ada’s life, providing outstanding care for her, and treated her as the cherished little girl she was. Their warmth and empathy towards us as her parents never wavered, and they guided us through the most difficult times. They treated our little family with so much dignity and tenderness and gave us the gift of time with her – time that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Throughout our stay, they helped us in countless ways:

• They arranged for us to stay at the nearby Ronald McDonald charity accommodation so that we were only ever ten minutes away from hospital

• They made space for our families to be with us, bending visiting rules so that we were never alone during the hardest moments

• They supported Becky in expressing milk so that Ada could have breast milk through mouth care and her feeding tube

• They allowed us to stay overnight on the ward when leaving Ada felt impossible

• They connected us with psychological support to help us begin to process the trauma of a sudden and devastating turn in what had been a healthy pregnancy

One private room on the ward in particular became the place of so many important memories with Ada. It was where we received both hope and heartbreak. It was where we were told Ada would recover by the consultant after her initial diagnosis, but also where we were told that she was on maximum support and showing no signs of improvement. We spent a private evening in that room with her when we thought we might have to say goodbye, but then also clung onto hope when she stabilised. When goodbye did come, we spent our final morning with her in the same room. We dressed her, bathed her, held her close, and created lasting memories that we will hold onto forever.

That room became a huge part of our story, and we want to raise funds to ensure it continues to be a comforting, peaceful place for other families going through their own unimaginable experiences. When time is short and love is all that matters, a private space where time can stand still is what is needed.

Your donation, no matter the size, will help ensure that future families receive the same care, dignity, and love that surrounded Ada in her life.

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Thank you for reading Ada’s story, for remembering her, and for helping us honour her in a way that reflects the beauty and strength she brought into the world. She will always be our little girl, and she will always be part of us.

From,

Becky, Nick and our families xxx