Emily Mcdonnell

I’m running 2k a day in Febuary for families facing baby loss

I’ve committed to running 2k a day this February for every much-loved baby sadly not here today.

 This is a charity that is very important to me. Sands ensure that everyone affected by the loss of a baby gets the support they need and deserve when facing the toughest of times.

I am sadly a member of the baby loss club, after losing my first born baby, Noah who was born prematurely just under 24weeks gestation. Much like many people around the world we went into the hospital with what we thought would be a usual weird and wonderful side effect of pregnancy. 

The hospital told me I was in premature labour, the stats for his survival that we were given got worse as the hours went by and we used the Sands charity website among others to help us make sense of all as it was unbelievably overwhelming. After the 3 most traumatic days of our lives we left the hospital the morning after I gave birth to Noah and held him in my arms until he passed away. We left with empty arms and a hole in our hears that will never fully heal.

So to mark Noahs 12th birthday, 1st of February. This year I will be taking on this challenge to help raise funds for Sands as the work they do really is invaluable, throughout our journey from the minute we heard that my body was in labour. Sands became a part of our journey, and so many others who have had a similar fate to us.

After we lost Noah, the hospital gave photos of Noah and a little box, the box contained his tiny blue knitted hat, a little Teddy bear which next to him looked huge, the midwifes took pictures of him with these items for us to remember him by, these items are now sadly all we have to remember him by, which makes this box alone the most important possession we have and we treasure it dearly! There are very few words that can describe just how much this little keepsake box means to parents that have to leave the hospital with empty arms.  

 Sands provide training for midwives and healthcare professionals, and support research so that fewer babies die and so that less families experience the tragedy of losing their baby. 

Donating even the smallest amount, will contribute towards such a beautiful cause to help every parents worst nightmare just a little less hellish. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my story! 

And thank you for even the tiniest donation towards a cause that means so much to us!! 

Emily :)