A couple whose child was stillborn have raised £100,000 to build a new centre in the QMC for other bereaved parents in Nottinghamshire.
Richard and Michelle Daniels from Chilwell set up their own charity called Forever Stars, two weeks after loosing their baby daughter who was stillborn.
The parents of Finlay Daniels, six, and Alfie Daniels, 20-weeks-old, set a target to raise £100,000 which they have now achieved.
The charity aimed to build a new state-of-the-art bereavement suite at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham.
The couple have been able to smash their six-figure goal and have recently been celebrating the birth of their second son, Alfie.
Michelle and Richard had high praise for the support they received from the Queens Medical Centre after their heartbreak, but they realised how important it is to create an area that will cater to a couples needs that have to deal with their child being stillborn.
We were dealt one of life’s hardest blows when our beautiful daughter Emily was stillborn.
Richard Daniels.
The Forever Stars charity will be having its first meeting with the QMC in July to start looking at the space available for the centre.
The new facility will provide a separate space where still born babies can be delivered and an area where family members can sleep over after the birth with the mother. It will also give them a chance to be alone with the baby so they have the time and privacy to say goodbye.
The Daniels believe it is important couples have their own space when going through the grieving process as they recall hearing the sounds of other women giving birth and celebrating after the loss of their baby Emily.
Richard Daniels said: “You’re sat staring at an empty cot, thinking about all the things you’ve just had stolen from you.
The sight of that empty cot will haunt me forever.
Richard Daniels.
The new bereavement suite should be ready in December after Emily’s second birthday.
Mr Daniels said: “The whole point of the charity was to have a purpose to having Emily and so people will realise her name and that she was born. I can’t put into words how important that is.”
The charity is still encouraging people to donate as more money will go towards other resources in the city and specialist equipment as well as stillbirth support.
You can donate to the Forever Stars charity here: http://www.foreverstars.org/donations.html
