For Hallie: Time, Love & A Lasting Legacy

On what should have been one of the happiest days of our lives, our world shattered instead.
 Our beautiful daughter, Hallie, arrived four days early—born sleeping. Nothing could have prepared us for the words “I’m sorry, there is no heartbeat.” In that moment, every dream we had imagined for her… her first smile, her first steps, the cuddles, the bedtime stories… disappeared into a silence we will never forget.

Losing Hallie broke my heart in ways I can barely put into words. The future I had seen so clearly changed in an instant, leaving behind an emptiness that will never fully heal. Even through the heartbreak, I realised that a mother’s love doesn’t depend on moments lived, it begins long before a first breath is ever taken.

The reason we lost Hallie is still unknown, she was perfectly formed, all the tests came back normal there simply is no medical answer.

After giving birth, it was explained that Hallie could stay with me in the hospital until I was discharged. Having that precious time with her in the cold crib brought immense comfort. It allowed friends and family to meet her, to see her beautiful face, to acknowledge her life—however short. But as I lay awake on the ward, the thought of Hallie being taken to the hospital mortuary filled me with dread. As a mother, all I wanted to do was protect her. Leaving her there felt like abandoning her in a place not meant for such pure, precious babies. My partner felt the same, we couldn’t leave the hospital without her.

We spoke to the bereavement midwife, who offered us a cuddle cot—an option that helps, but is nowhere near as effective as a cold crib. We asked if we could take the cold crib home instead, and that simple question set so much into motion at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. After many discussions and meetings behind the scenes, we were told it would be possible. The hospital went above and beyond, and one of the directors personally delivered the cold crib to our home ahead of us bringing Hallie back with us.

That gift of time changed everything.

It allowed us two whole weeks with Hallie—time to hold her, study her tiny features, talk to her, and simply be her mum and dad. Those moments were priceless. They eased our grief in a way nothing else could have. And it was Hallie who became the reason the midwives now hope to offer this option to more bereaved parents in the future.

Hallie may never have opened her eyes, but she became a little groundbreaker that day, changing hospital practice and touching the hearts of everyone involved.

Why I’m Fundraising

I am now raising funds to provide a community cold crib for families in Doncaster. A cold crib allows parents to take their stillborn baby home or spend longer with them in hospital, giving precious, unhurried time to grieve, to hold their child, and to say goodbye in the way every parent deserves.

No family should feel rushed in their grief.
No parent should lose the chance for those sacred hours, days, or weeks with their baby.


If this cold crib can bring even one family the comfort it brought us, then Hallie’s short life will have created something profoundly meaningful.

Carrying Hallie’s Memory Forward

I don’t want Hallie’s story to end with loss.
I want her name to stand for love, change, and hope.

That’s why any surplus funds will go towards the beginning of Hallie’s Hub—a youth club concept designed to be a safe, supportive, joyful space for children. A place filled with laughter, inspiration, opportunity, and community. A place where her memory can shine quietly through every smile, every bond formed, every child who feels a little less alone.

Hallie never got to grow up, but through this project, her legacy can help other children grow, thrive, and feel part of something brighter.

Thank You

If you choose to support this fundraiser, please know you are helping grieving parents when they need it most, and you are helping build a hopeful future in Hallie’s name.

Your kindness means more than words can say.


Together, we can make sure my little girl’s story becomes one of love, hope, and lasting impact.