Martin House has become the center of my world in the last few years. Through personal experience with Martin House and seeing the amazing work there and support they give to people I feel I will always fundraise for Martin House for them to continue supporting families as they have did mine and continue to do.

Martin House first became known to me in 2008, after losing my brother in a tragic accident, my family and I set up a memorial charity in his name ‘Richard Tennant memorial Charity’ we held events to raise funds for local charity’s and Martin House was one of them, at the time we presented a cheque to Martin House in his memory. Little did I know that in the future I too would need the support of this wonderful place.

In 2020 I found out I was pregnant with twins, this was a complete shock as twins do not run in our family, plus due to covid I had to attend my scan on my own so breaking the news to my husband was difficult. However, once we got our heads round this, we were looking forward to having twins, realizing how lucky we were, plus we already had a daughter and how excited she would be to be a big sister to not one but two babies. When it came to my 20 weeks scan we were looking forward to seeing the babies, however this was the point when our world came crashing down. One of the twins had a congenital heart defect to which there would be very little that could be done, and the baby wouldn’t survive.

Within days we were referred to Leeds Hospital fetal cardiology and fetal medicine, we had to do regular visits for checks, get more in-depth information as to what was wrong with ‘twin1’ at the time and also to keep regular checks on ‘twin2’ We had to have many scans as well as a more intense examination to make sure the problem with Twin1 wasn’t the same in Twin2. Thankfully all results came back clear for Twin2.

The time came when we had to decide as to which hospice we would stay at, after having the Twins.

Martin House was one of the hospices available and due to previously raising money and knowing more about the hospice we decided on there. However, this was a difficult decision, I didn’t want to go to a hospice, why us?

On the 12th of January 2021 my twin girls were delivered at LGI, they were both beautiful, looked perfect, would never know there was anything wrong with them. However, we didn’t have the baby bubble as we knew one of our girls was extremely poorly and wouldn’t survive. Whilst in the hospital our poorly girl’s heartrate started to drop, so we weren’t sure if we would actually get out of the hospital with the girls to Martin House and also so they could meet there big sister.

We had to quickly name the girls in the hospital just in case she didn’t survive the night and we introduced our older daughter Ella-Rose who was 3 at the time to our girls over facetime.

Twin1, we named Amelia-Grace and Twin2 we named Imogen Amelia-Grace. We gave Imogen her sisters middle name so she would keep her with her forever.

The next day 13th January 2021, we made our way to Martin House Hospice, following Amelia-Grace in the ambulance there, the worst journey following the ambulance, constantly praying she survived the journey. When we arrived at the Hospice the staff came to greet us at the door, Ella-Rose and Imogen were with us and Amelia-Grace survived the journey and met us there.

The staff there were so kind and helpful, they supported us from the moment we stepped through those doors. Again, I felt reserved, I didn’t want to be there, I wanted to be home with all three of my girls, however I made sure I opened up and made most of the time we all had together as a family of 5.

Due to the pandemic there was only us in the hospice, this was so sad, all the amazing work they do there and couldn’t help their regular families due to this, However my older daughter made sure they were kept extra busy, Ella-Rose loved it, she said it was a holiday, the staff were amazing with her, playing games, arts and crafts, playing in the snow which was extremely heavy and freak at the time.

The staff kept a watch over me, and the twins, making sure we were ok, and Amelia-Grace remained comfortable. Martin House became our home, and it was Amelia-Graces first and only home.

Whilst we were at the hospice, we really wanted our parents and girls grandparents to meet the twins, again this was difficult to do due to the pandemic, and as it happened also the weather and heavy snow storm, however they got there. My parents and my husband’s parents were welcomed to Martin House, and they got to meet Amelia-grace and see her with her twin sister Imogen.

We had the opportunity to do memory making with the girls, doing a family tree, Christmas decorations and keep sake items.

On the morning of the 15th of January 2023, Myself, my husband, our older daughter Ella-Rose and the twins Amelia-Grace and Imogen were all sat together on the bed in our room, there was snow on the ground, and the sun was shining through on us on the bed, this was the moment that our beautiful girl Amelia-Grace slipped away into her forever sleep. It was the worst moment but also the perfect moment, all 5 of us together and the sun shining down on us with the ground covered in snow.

The staff continued to be amazing, checking Amelia-Grace over, giving us all time together, and letting us try to come to terms with what was happening. Amelia-Grace was then moved to the cold room in the hospice. We were supported in how we explain to Ella-Rose what had happened for her to understand and providing with things to help us with this.

We continued to stay at Martin house with the girls, getting the support we needed but also sitting in the living area next to the cold room near Amelia-Grace. They supported us in making arrangement for the funeral director and what we needed to do next.

We stayed at the hospice a total of 2 weeks, and leaving was the hardest thing to do, I didn’t want to be there at first but then I didn’t want to leave, as I was Leaving Amelia-Grace.

Martin house sent representation to Amelia-Graces funeral, and this was amazing.

Following this we have had numerous counselling sessions and accessed and attended the parent bereavement group. We have been to the memorial days and other events for Martin House. The support we have had is amazing and I know that if I ever needed to, I would be welcomed back for more counselling, I have made great friends from the parent bereavement group and this is all down to the amazing work by Martin House.

Martin House will forever be my twins first home; it will always be Amelia-Graces only home and always be Ella-Roses and Imogen’s Holiday home. I am so grateful for the work and the support that Martin House does and I plan to continue to try and raise money for martin house for many years to come.

I have a great training team supporting me, my friend Katie who is also running the London marathon raising money for her charity, and also my sister in law Julieann, Jules is one of the most important people in my life, she has been mine strength and support for many years, she was due to marry my brother who we lost back in 2008 so has always been part of our fundraising for Martin House. Jules was also one of the only people who got to meet and cuddle our angel Amelia-Grace, she is an advanced neonatal nurse practitioner at LGI and along with the amazing team at LGI Jules met our twin girls when they were first born so it is a privilege to have her running at the side of me through life and through training and the London marathon.

Martin House supports children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families, across West, North and East Yorkshire. Our vision is that every child and young person has access to palliative care when and where they need it.