Remembering Baby Ollie
Donation protected
Early in 2013, 23 year old Jessica and husband Ray were excited to learn that they would be having a baby brother or sister for 16 month old Jasmine.
The pregnancy progressed as most healthy pregnancies do. Jessica was kept awake when the baby started kicking at night and they were overjoyed when the ultra sound showed them that they would be having a baby boy.
They called him Ollie.
There was no signs that anything was out of place. No indication of the tragedy that was to follow.
When Jessica was 37.5 weeks pregnant, she woke after the first full nights sleep she had had in a long time. Ollie's kicks had not kept her awake. Something was wrong.
At the hospital they found no heart beat. Jessica's and Ray's little boy had passed during the night.
Later an autopsy found the cause of death was a fetomaternal hemorrhage, a rare condition that no one could predict.
Jessica had spent all of their meager earnings on babies clothes, bedding and all of the things a baby would need. They never thought to save money for his funeral.
To their dismay they learned that even a basic tombstone would cost them 5000 dollars. Jessica and Ray did what they could and erected a simple but beautiful cross to mark their son's last resting place.
Jessica went on to have another beautiful baby girl but baby Ollie was never far from their hearts. They often visited his grave to remind the girls that Ollie was still an important part of their family.
He was not forgotten.
On the 19th of November this year the family received a letter that would tear them apart. They had 28 days to erect a basic tombstone or they would remove the cross and there would be nothing to mark his grave. This was the first time they were made aware of this requirement and, on just one income, they had no hope of raising the funds.
My name is Sheryl-lee and I was Jessica's English teacher at North Lake Senior Campus. I kept in contact with Jessica, who lives close by, and followed the story of her pregnancies on facebook.
I still rememberJessica's posts when she could not feel her baby's kicks. How we urged her to get help and the devastation that followed.
On Friday, the 20th of November, I was completely blown away by the news that they would take down Ollie's well maintained cross at the Rockingham Cementary on Baldivis Road and I asked if I could share Jessica's story for this GoFundMe campaign.
I'm hoping to raise 5000 dollars to allow Jessica and Ray to buy Ollie a basic tombstone. I would like to raise this money within the next 15-20 days so that they might have time to have the tombstone engraved before they take the cross down.
All money raised will go towards Ollie's tombstone. I would be so grateful for any money you could donate to help a young family that has already suffered enough.
The pregnancy progressed as most healthy pregnancies do. Jessica was kept awake when the baby started kicking at night and they were overjoyed when the ultra sound showed them that they would be having a baby boy.
They called him Ollie.
There was no signs that anything was out of place. No indication of the tragedy that was to follow.
When Jessica was 37.5 weeks pregnant, she woke after the first full nights sleep she had had in a long time. Ollie's kicks had not kept her awake. Something was wrong.
At the hospital they found no heart beat. Jessica's and Ray's little boy had passed during the night.
Later an autopsy found the cause of death was a fetomaternal hemorrhage, a rare condition that no one could predict.
Jessica had spent all of their meager earnings on babies clothes, bedding and all of the things a baby would need. They never thought to save money for his funeral.
To their dismay they learned that even a basic tombstone would cost them 5000 dollars. Jessica and Ray did what they could and erected a simple but beautiful cross to mark their son's last resting place.
Jessica went on to have another beautiful baby girl but baby Ollie was never far from their hearts. They often visited his grave to remind the girls that Ollie was still an important part of their family.
He was not forgotten.
On the 19th of November this year the family received a letter that would tear them apart. They had 28 days to erect a basic tombstone or they would remove the cross and there would be nothing to mark his grave. This was the first time they were made aware of this requirement and, on just one income, they had no hope of raising the funds.
My name is Sheryl-lee and I was Jessica's English teacher at North Lake Senior Campus. I kept in contact with Jessica, who lives close by, and followed the story of her pregnancies on facebook.
I still rememberJessica's posts when she could not feel her baby's kicks. How we urged her to get help and the devastation that followed.
On Friday, the 20th of November, I was completely blown away by the news that they would take down Ollie's well maintained cross at the Rockingham Cementary on Baldivis Road and I asked if I could share Jessica's story for this GoFundMe campaign.
I'm hoping to raise 5000 dollars to allow Jessica and Ray to buy Ollie a basic tombstone. I would like to raise this money within the next 15-20 days so that they might have time to have the tombstone engraved before they take the cross down.
All money raised will go towards Ollie's tombstone. I would be so grateful for any money you could donate to help a young family that has already suffered enough.
Organizer
Sheryl-lee Anderson-shaw
Organizer