Please visit our page on Petals website for further information about our event. If you would like to get involved & support through sponsorship & raffle/auction prize donations, please do get in touch 🌸💙

https://www.petalscharity.org/petals-gala-2026/

Ellie’s Story x

Thursday 23rd June 2016, a date many remember for Brexit. For me, it’s the date that changed my life, and my future forever.

18th May 2016, I was happily enjoying my pregnancy, expecting My second child in November that year, but was admitted to hospital with appendicitis & had to have an emergency operation. I remember the first question I asked theatre staff when I came round from my anaesthetic, “is the baby ok?”. Baby was fine, and continued to show as being well over the next few weeks.

I was regularly visiting the hospital to check on the baby as it was having intermittent bleeding, but baby’s heartbeat was always strong. We went to the 20 week scan, still filled with excitement, and although there wasn’t an awful lot of movement, I was told our baby was just being lazy.

A few days after the scan, I felt something wasn’t right. I went into hospital, once again expecting to be sent home with the advice to rest and not worry, however it was late in the evening so they asked me to stay in. When the midwife came the next morning to check baby’s heartbeat, she asked if I wanted to call anyone, as I needed to see the consultant. I’d had so many visits where everything had been fine, I said I was ok. She asked again, but I didn’t read her hints that I should probably have someone come in. I saw the consultant. He did a scan. He put his hand on my arm, told me that there wasn’t enough fluid, and said the words “that’s not good”.

My world fell apart, my partner arrived, and the next evening, 23rd June 2016, I gave birth to our beautiful baby boy, Joey, at 22 weeks. So tiny, so perfect.

The weeks and months following were a blur. I had to continue functioning, I had a 4 year old at home, who I had to explain that their baby brother had died. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I felt I’d let everyone down.

I existed for a while with people avoiding me, as they didn’t know what to say. Then I got in contact with Petals.

Petals gave me the permission I needed to grieve, and the opportunity to talk when so few others wanted to listen. I didn’t want to burden those closest to me. Petals gave me the support I needed, and the tools to be able to move forward. My counsellors genuine care, support and guidance allowed me to continue living, rather than just existing.

It breaks my heart that there are so many people who need their support, who continue to struggle at such a difficult time. Please support our fundraising efforts for this essential counselling service.

Thank you 💙