Jack’s memory - Rotunda Foundation

Hi, as part of baby loss awareness week we would like to raise funds for the Rotunda Foundation specifically the Journey Initiative and Bereavement support team.

These are two areas of support in the Rotunda hospital that no parent should ever have to avail of, but in the unfortunate situation that you do, they are invaluable.

After receiving a fatal fetal abnormality diagnosis for our son Jack in May, we were dealt with the most unimaginable news that our son would die and at the same time trying to carry on and feel joy for Jack’s healthy twin brother Finn who needed many more months of growing before we could meet both boys.

In coming to terms with our situation we were introduced to the journey initiative by the clinical midwife specialist in the Rotunda. We were given emotional support, practical help and a number of memory making items. A special part of the journey initiative is the ‘Guess How Much I love you’ book and the story of little and big nut brown hare. We were given matching little nut brown hare bunnies for the twins and encouraged to have family days out with them in order to make memories while we were all together still with both boys in my tummy. And so big brother Lucas brought these bunnies to the zoo, the farm, on fire trucks, helicopters, police cars, tree top walks, family fun days to name just a few. Something so small gave us happy family memories in what was otherwise a very difficult time. We were able to read the story of guess how much I love you to all 3 boys together with their nutbrown hare bunnies. This will always hold a special place in our heart. Similarly we were supported with other memory making items to continue our journey after Jack to remember him.

We were also linked in antenatally with the bereavement team to discuss what things would look like after Jack’s passing and to support us with those arrangements. They provided us with so much emotional support and also practical support such as having him baptised, arranging his funeral, creating ceramic hand and foot prints, locks of hair, etc.

Everything provided made a huge difference to us and supported us at a time we needed it the most. The work both the journey initiative and the bereavement team do is made possible through donations made to the Rotunda Foundation.

As such as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week, we would like Jack’s memory to live on and ensure other parents who find themselves in the worst situation of their lives are able to receive the same care and support that we were given.

We would be grateful for any donation no matter how big or small. Donations will be split evenly between the journey initiative and bereavement support.

Jack passed away on the 4th September 2024 at 3 hours old.

Thank you,

Erin, Daniel, Lucas and Finn.