Woodshop in memory of my baby boy Pip

Hi, my name is Mariusz. My aim is to raise money to build my own woodshop, where I could create toys, accessories, and furniture for kids’ bedrooms. The idea was born during my fiancée’s pregnancy, back in 2021. I wanted to get away from long stressful hours of hospitality and do something that could really highlight my creative side instead. The love of DIY and hands-on attitude have led me towards carpentry and woodworking. Credit where it is due, it was my fiancée who suggested wooden toys.

However, not everything goes according to plan. The baby we were expecting was my firstborn. His pregnancy nickname was Pip. We wanted to choose a different name for him once he was here with us, but we could not get ourselves to do it, because sadly, Pip died not long after he was born. Tracheal agenesis – the air had no chance of getting into his lungs. There were health concerns that we and the doctors were aware of, but nobody expected the unexpected. One of the best days of our lives turned into the worst. Our world was shattered. Pip’s older siblings were devastated too. To this day I keep thinking it is a miracle we are all still here, together.

I started working on the idea during the winter of 2021, shortly after the funeral. Alongside looking after my family, it was my purpose, it kept me alive. However, by the summer of 2022 the resources had run out and rising costs of living have been making it difficult the save any kind of capital towards it ever since. I have a shed full of unwanted stuff, which could not be further away from being a woodshop.

Last year we welcomed another boy into our family. His name is August, and he recently turned 6 months. This time there were no complications, everything went as well as it could. But his arrival brought a lot of pain back. I began to be haunted by old nightmares, panic attacks, I did not know how to cherish my baby without the agony glooming over my shoulders.

This woodshop is not just about making a living. It is about surviving against odds. It is about finding a new path. It is about keeping my son’s memory alive. It is Pip’s legacy and my peace. I cannot put a smile on his face, but at least I can try to make other children happy.

Thank you for your time and all your donations, however big or small. I appreciate it with whatever is left of my broken heart.