Nicki Hill

My Story

In 2005, at 26, I became pregnant and had to confront something I’d spent my life fearing — the possibility that I carried the gene for Huntington’s Disease, the hereditary condition my dad lives with. I’d always said that if I became pregnant, I’d take the test. On the day I was meant to, I miscarried. When I eventually found the strength to try again, I tested positive. My world changed overnight, and I feared motherhood might never be possible.

In 2016, I became pregnant once more. I made the agonising decision to test the baby, knowing the risks. After weeks of fear, I learned my little girl didn’t carry the gene. For the first time in years, I felt hope.

But on my due date, after days of mismanaged induction and signs of preeclampsia, I heard the words no parent should ever hear: “There’s no heartbeat.” My daughter, Roman Aurora, was born sleeping. An investigation later found 21 failures in our care.

Losing Roman shattered me. My relationship ended, and I was left alone in a grief that felt impossible to survive. In that darkness, Sands became my lifeline. They understood baby loss in a way no one else could — answering the phone in the middle of the night, sitting with me through every wave of pain, never making me feel like a burden. Their support helped keep me here when I couldn’t see a way forward.

Three years later, I became pregnant with twins. Because of the risk of miscarriage, I chose not to test them — a terrifying decision, but the right one for us. At just under 35 weeks, my twin boys arrived safely. Being a single parent to twins is challenging, but it’s the greatest gift. Every milestone they reach is part of Roman’s legacy.

I’m fundraising because no parent should face the loss of a baby alone. Sands made sure I didn’t. Their support truly changes lives, and with your help, they can continue to be there for families in their darkest moments.

Thank you for helping me honour Roman’s memory by supporting a charity that held me together when I needed it most.