Thomas Southport/Formby Cuddle Cot
Donation protected
Angel Wings Baby and Child Loss Support are supporting Angel Parents Mark and Lisa of beautiful Thomas to fundraise and gift a Cuddle Cot to a Wigan Hospital Neo-natal Unit .
The family have already fundraised for a Cuddle Cot for a Wigan Funeral Directors and one in Maghull Merseyside this will be their 3rd.
Mark Keenan and Lisa Laforte
Our story
Our pregnancy journey started out like so many others. We had a suspicion one day after experiencing some of the symptoms so we took a test and so began a new life. We were absolutely over the moon. We already had three beautiful boys between us and our new life would be a welcomed addition to our little family. A younger sibling for Zak (17), Matthew (15) and Oliver (3).
We made the usual booking appointments for the midwife to confirm everything and our estimated due date was the 27th November 2015. We went for our 12 week scan and everything was perfect so we announced our news to all of our friends and family like every other couple with no worries whatsoever. I attended a consultant appointment due to a previous history of pre-eclampsia and discussed my preferred birth method. I expressed how I wished to try for a vaginal birth this time and was given the go ahead as there were no other concerns with my health. A caesarean section was planned for the 4th December if there were no signs of labour.
Fast forward to our 20 week scan and we found out that there would be another blue bundle joining our household and we were over the moon! More importantly, he was absolutely perfect and growing well. No concerns. I was well and on we went to carry on happily, so excited!
After a further 16 weeks of no problems and getting ready for our arrival, we moved home to gain more space for our boys to play. We decorated our new home happily and set up the room for our youngest boys to share. Oliver was so excited to be gaining a baby brother and would constantly kiss my growing bump. It was so sweet and brought a huge smile to my face every time.
At nearly 39 weeks, after finishing some decorating in the front room, I started with contractions and terrible lower back pain. At first I dismissed these as Braxton-hicks until they became regular and stronger. Having never experienced this before, I began to time them and they became closer together with 3-4, minutes apart. Bag packed and waiting in the car, off we went to the hospital at 11pm to get checked. After monitoring for 30 minutes a decision was made to keep me in hospital overnight to see if things would progress on their own.
After a night of contractions I wasn’t dilating so home I went to carry on after my consultant came to see me to ask what we wanted to do. I wanted to carry on trying for a natural delivery. This went on for a week on and off. The 24th of November the contractions were immense and 3 minutes apart. I had passed my mucous plug so unsure what to do next we attended the assessment unit again at 12am. Again, after monitoring for about half an hour the midwife dealing with us made the decision to send us home. No doctor or consultant came to see us this time, despite my history and we were told to go home and wait until I was in more pain (I was doubled over on the bed in agony). Home we went to carry on. Laid in bed trying to get comfortable and Thomas started to move lots but more than normal. I joked and said he was performing somersaults inside and would be a gymnast. Asked for advice and was told he is moving so that’s ok and dismissed it. Attended the drop in midwife on the 26th November after carrying on like this for a further day. Usual checks made, she offered me a cervical sweep which I agreed to and I was 2cm dilated. Thomas’s heartbeat was heard. This would be the last time I would hear that precious sound.
That night I carried on pacing the floor to try to get things moving, made a curry and tried to relax as best I could. Thomas was his usual self with no concerns so we tried to grab some sleep. At 3 am I felt him move, went to the toilet, paced around for half an hour and went back to sleep after grabbing a drink. That was the last time I felt my precious baby boy move.
I woke suddenly at around 7am and had a feeling. I don’t know why but I knew something was wrong. I tried jiggling my tummy as I knew that would usually make Thomas stir but nothing. Panicking, Mark rang the assessment at 7.40am after I tried the usual cold drinks, coffee, lying on my side etc and we were told to wait and see if any of this took effect.
Finally agreeing that none of this was working, we didn’t wait any longer and off we went to Liverpool Women’s Hospital, to learn what happened. After trying to find Thomas’s little heartbeat for nearly half an hour with no joy, we went into another room for a scan with a doctor who confirmed my worst ever fears.
“I’m so sorry, there’s no heartbeat”. Marks face said it all. They didn’t have to say a word. That moment I wanted the ground to swallow me up. I wanted it all to be one horrible, nasty nightmare. I wanted to be with him. Why us? The day before he was fine!
We were quickly whisked away to delivery suite and I begged them not to place me near any babies. We were placed in a room away from everyone which I would later learn was purpose built for these tragic circumstances. After waiting several hours for a doctor to be free, we met our precious angel boy Thomas Elliot Keenan, on the 27/11/15 at 5.24pm weighing 7lb 4oz and perfect in every way possible. We spent the whole weekend with him taking so many pictures and cuddling him. We took a cast of his hands and feet and took prints. Mark bravely bathed him and dressed him beautifully. Our midwives were amazing and incredibly supportive. On the Monday evening, however we had to make the decision to leave him and make the arrangements that no parent should ever have to make, to lay them to rest. He would be cremated on the 16th December 2015. No parent should ever see that tiny white coffin and bury their baby, or child. Ever.
Please help by making a small donation and help grieving families to have the only extra time with their babies massive Thank You x
The family have already fundraised for a Cuddle Cot for a Wigan Funeral Directors and one in Maghull Merseyside this will be their 3rd.
Mark Keenan and Lisa Laforte
Our story
Our pregnancy journey started out like so many others. We had a suspicion one day after experiencing some of the symptoms so we took a test and so began a new life. We were absolutely over the moon. We already had three beautiful boys between us and our new life would be a welcomed addition to our little family. A younger sibling for Zak (17), Matthew (15) and Oliver (3).
We made the usual booking appointments for the midwife to confirm everything and our estimated due date was the 27th November 2015. We went for our 12 week scan and everything was perfect so we announced our news to all of our friends and family like every other couple with no worries whatsoever. I attended a consultant appointment due to a previous history of pre-eclampsia and discussed my preferred birth method. I expressed how I wished to try for a vaginal birth this time and was given the go ahead as there were no other concerns with my health. A caesarean section was planned for the 4th December if there were no signs of labour.
Fast forward to our 20 week scan and we found out that there would be another blue bundle joining our household and we were over the moon! More importantly, he was absolutely perfect and growing well. No concerns. I was well and on we went to carry on happily, so excited!
After a further 16 weeks of no problems and getting ready for our arrival, we moved home to gain more space for our boys to play. We decorated our new home happily and set up the room for our youngest boys to share. Oliver was so excited to be gaining a baby brother and would constantly kiss my growing bump. It was so sweet and brought a huge smile to my face every time.
At nearly 39 weeks, after finishing some decorating in the front room, I started with contractions and terrible lower back pain. At first I dismissed these as Braxton-hicks until they became regular and stronger. Having never experienced this before, I began to time them and they became closer together with 3-4, minutes apart. Bag packed and waiting in the car, off we went to the hospital at 11pm to get checked. After monitoring for 30 minutes a decision was made to keep me in hospital overnight to see if things would progress on their own.
After a night of contractions I wasn’t dilating so home I went to carry on after my consultant came to see me to ask what we wanted to do. I wanted to carry on trying for a natural delivery. This went on for a week on and off. The 24th of November the contractions were immense and 3 minutes apart. I had passed my mucous plug so unsure what to do next we attended the assessment unit again at 12am. Again, after monitoring for about half an hour the midwife dealing with us made the decision to send us home. No doctor or consultant came to see us this time, despite my history and we were told to go home and wait until I was in more pain (I was doubled over on the bed in agony). Home we went to carry on. Laid in bed trying to get comfortable and Thomas started to move lots but more than normal. I joked and said he was performing somersaults inside and would be a gymnast. Asked for advice and was told he is moving so that’s ok and dismissed it. Attended the drop in midwife on the 26th November after carrying on like this for a further day. Usual checks made, she offered me a cervical sweep which I agreed to and I was 2cm dilated. Thomas’s heartbeat was heard. This would be the last time I would hear that precious sound.
That night I carried on pacing the floor to try to get things moving, made a curry and tried to relax as best I could. Thomas was his usual self with no concerns so we tried to grab some sleep. At 3 am I felt him move, went to the toilet, paced around for half an hour and went back to sleep after grabbing a drink. That was the last time I felt my precious baby boy move.
I woke suddenly at around 7am and had a feeling. I don’t know why but I knew something was wrong. I tried jiggling my tummy as I knew that would usually make Thomas stir but nothing. Panicking, Mark rang the assessment at 7.40am after I tried the usual cold drinks, coffee, lying on my side etc and we were told to wait and see if any of this took effect.
Finally agreeing that none of this was working, we didn’t wait any longer and off we went to Liverpool Women’s Hospital, to learn what happened. After trying to find Thomas’s little heartbeat for nearly half an hour with no joy, we went into another room for a scan with a doctor who confirmed my worst ever fears.
“I’m so sorry, there’s no heartbeat”. Marks face said it all. They didn’t have to say a word. That moment I wanted the ground to swallow me up. I wanted it all to be one horrible, nasty nightmare. I wanted to be with him. Why us? The day before he was fine!
We were quickly whisked away to delivery suite and I begged them not to place me near any babies. We were placed in a room away from everyone which I would later learn was purpose built for these tragic circumstances. After waiting several hours for a doctor to be free, we met our precious angel boy Thomas Elliot Keenan, on the 27/11/15 at 5.24pm weighing 7lb 4oz and perfect in every way possible. We spent the whole weekend with him taking so many pictures and cuddling him. We took a cast of his hands and feet and took prints. Mark bravely bathed him and dressed him beautifully. Our midwives were amazing and incredibly supportive. On the Monday evening, however we had to make the decision to leave him and make the arrangements that no parent should ever have to make, to lay them to rest. He would be cremated on the 16th December 2015. No parent should ever see that tiny white coffin and bury their baby, or child. Ever.
Please help by making a small donation and help grieving families to have the only extra time with their babies massive Thank You x
Organizer
Angel Wings
Organizer
