A brave West Lothian couple have told of the heartache of losing two babies within just five years.
Devastated Sarah and Chris Cunningham were marking what would have been son Cailean’s fifth birthday this year when Sarah miscarried again at 10 weeks.
The couple, from Broxburn, have been speaking about the invaluable support they’ve received from the Held in Our Hearts charity, and have completed an epic series of five Kiltwalks to raise money.
Sarah and Chris, from Broxburn, said they wanted to do something special to mark Cailean’s birthday and decided to do the Aberdeen, Dundee,
Edinburgh, Glasgow and even the Virtual KitWalk which they completed during Baby Loss Awareness Week on October 11, on what would have been Cailean’s due date.
But instead of preparing for the Kiltwalks, Sarah miscarried for a second time.
Sarah said: “I should have been walking the Kiltwalks whilst pregnant for the third time. Unfortunately, I miscarried at just 10 weeks.
“Held In Our Hearts have been amazing support to me and my family since Cailean died and although we are still very much active in the charity, we now find ourselves back needing their support once again.
“Some of the support that has been available to us in the last five years includes counselling specifically for baby loss, support groups, peer support from other bereaved parents, a beautiful annual Christmas service that gave us space and time to remember Cailean and books to read to our living daughter Isla, that will help her understand why she cannot play with her brother like her friends do. This is why all funds raised will go to Held In Our Hearts.”
Sarah and Chris said beloved son Cailean was stillborn at 28 weeks in July 2017.
They said it had been “five years since we heard those dreadful words - ‘there is no heartbeat’ and five years of learning how to navigate life without him.”
They continued: “We are walking five KiltWalks this year to mark those five years whilst raising money for Held In Our Hearts, so that they can continue their amazing support to bereaved families.”
Their fifth and final walk took place last week starting at the Held In Our Hearts’ office in Craiglockhart and finished in Kirknewton Cemetery, stopping at a few other meaningful locations on the way.
When asked how the final walk went, Chris and Sarah said: “It was tough however the aches and pains in our feet are no comparison to the pain we live with in our hearts every day that Cailean isn’t here with us.”
Chris and Sarah completed the other events individually, but with the Edinburgh event being in September, after Cailean’s fifth birthday and closest to home, Sarah completed the Wee Wander along with her daughter Isla, who was born in 2019, with the view that Cailean would have walked it with them
and Chris completed the Mighty Stride in the same event and family and friends also got involved too.
Nicola Welsh, Chief Executive Officer for Held In Our Hearts said the charity is grateful to Sarah and Chris for choosing to support them.
She continued: “The amazing amount of money they have raised will go a long way in supporting other bereaved parents in the local community.
“Their challenge has been incredible and such a special and touching way to mark Cailean’s fifth year.
“As a bereaved parent myself I know how hard that journey was and still can be, living without my son, and seeing such key milestones as birthdays, first days of school pass by, while others around you seem to just carry on.
“Living with the loss of your baby is a lifelong journey and we are here to support parents like Sarah and Chris for as long as they need.”
This year marked the 20 anniversary of Baby Loss Awareness Week in the UK – a week for everyone in the baby loss community and beyond to come together to remember much loved and missed babies.
Held In Our Hearts had a number of events for families to engage with, including a Wave of Light Walk Around Arthur’s Seat on Saturday, October 15 which was attended by 150 people, who gathered together to reflect and remember their little ones in solidarity.
More information regarding the charity’s work, how businesses or the public can fundraise and support the charity can be found by contacting the charity at info@heldinourhearts.org.uk.
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here
