An East Belfast mum has thanked those who supported her and her husband after the loss of their son at 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Jayne and Ross Morgan got married early in 2022 and soon after, Jayne became pregnant with their first baby.
Jayne told Be: "In October, late in our pregnancy our baby boy Luca was born sleeping in the Ulster Maternity Hospital. We were really well looked after by the midwives who took care of us there in room 7, the bereavement suite.
Read more: Belfast bereavement midwife on support after tragic baby loss
"But because we weren't full term and everything happened really quickly, we didn't have anything we needed."
The couple were then also supported by SiMBA (Simpson's Memory Box Appeal), a charity registered in Scotland, but services reach across the UK and Ireland.
Their website states: "We exist to support families and those close to them whose baby has died at any stage of pregnancy or around the time of birth.
"We help families create precious memories and offer beautiful ways to honour and remember their baby, now and always."
Jayne added: "The hospital provided us with a SiMBA box. We didn't ask for it. We didn't contact the charity. We didn't know anything about them. That's why they're so special. They give you things you don't know you need when you're so vulnerable and reliant on health professionals to guide you through that fog of grief and trauma straight after delivery.
"Inside the SiMBA box were lots of ideas for memory making with our baby. We took casts of his hands and feet. And prints of them. There are two identical crocheted small teddies and butterflies.
"One stays with us and one went with Luca for his cremation. There was a small blanket. A tealight and holder. A candle. An SD card for taking pictures. A pen and notebook in case you want to write a letter to your baby to also go with them to burial or cremation."
Jayne says all of these are now "treasure" to her and husband Ross. SiMBA say they are now facing a shortfall in funds and need to raise £220,000.
"SiMBA rely on donations and fundraising. Which means our memory box was funded by parents and families who have come before us in this living nightmare and to honour their babies.
"When they recently came under financial pressure and shared that they are facing closure, we knew it was time for our family to pay it forward - to show our gratitude for giving us priceless, lifelong keepsakes to remember our baby and to look after the women and families who don't yet know this horror but inevitably will. To give them the treasures they don't even know they need," Jayne added.
Jayne and her family are now fundraising as their way of giving back to the charity.
"So with one of my sisters, we decided to have a brunch in February, with some live music and run a small raffle. We underestimated the local businesses in Belfast.
"We have received so many donations and the generosity has been unbelievable. These are mostly small family run businesses and we are so grateful for their support especially because the cost of living crisis has left so many people struggling.
"This money creates memory boxes which truly make a difference to parents leaving the maternity hospital with only that in their hands," she said.
Jayne also gave her thanks to the bereavement midwives at the Ulster Hospital.
She said: "They have their families and volunteers knitting and crocheting for parents, to just make the environment less sterile when you're spending time with your baby before you leave hospital. My baby had two lovely little hats, and I had a beautiful blanket for my hospital bed.
"We couldn't be more grateful for the support we've received during the worst time of our lives."
To find out more about SiMBA, CLICK HERE and to donate to '#SaveSiMBA', CLICK HERE.
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