Rachel Essex Jones

I’m swimming in November for families facing baby loss

Some things in life are difficult to put into words, and baby loss is one of them. 

This year, baby loss has touched the lives of people close to me in a way that has been impossible to ignore. Family and friends have experienced heartbreak that no one should ever have to face, but in September, the loss of a dear friend’s baby brought that reality even closer to home.

Cassian; a tiny life, so loved, with a future that should have been so full of possibility. A family left to navigate a kind of grief that is difficult to understand unless you have experienced it yourself.

Cassian’s name deserves to be remembered. His life mattered, and the love surrounding him matters too. His story is one that has stayed with me, and it has reminded me why supporting charities like SANDS is so incredibly important. 

That’s why I’ve committed to swimming this November for every much-loved baby sadly not here today. I want to do something, however small, to help families going through the unimaginable, to help ensure that no one has to feel alone in their grief, and to contribute towards the vital work that SANDS does for those affected by the loss of a baby. 

This swim is about so much more than getting into the water and reaching the other side. It’s about love, loss, remembrance, and helping make sure that every little life is acknowledged and never forgotten.

It’s for Cassian, for the family and friends who have experienced loss this year, and for every family who has ever had to say goodbye far too soon.

Sands ensure that everyone affected by the loss of a baby gets the support they need and deserve when facing the toughest of times. They campaign for change and provide training for midwives and healthcare professionals so that fewer babies die and fewer families experience the tragedy of losing their baby. Anything you are able to donate means so much.

Thank you.