A bereaved mum is to take a leap of faith for two causes close to her heart when she takes on a charity skydive in memory of her son.
Laura Cunningham, 40, suffered unimaginable loss when her first-born Mark passed away with brittle bone disease at just seven-months-old.
Tragically the tot was given just six weeks to live when doctors made the devastating type 2 diagnosis - the most severe and life-limiting form - at birth.
But, against all odds, little Mark battled on and even made it home before catching a cold and passing away on September 8, 1999.
Supported by Rachel House (CHAS) throughout his short life and Child Bereavement UK after he had passed, mum Laura has pledged to raise as much as possible for the two charities to show her gratitude.
Now, along with her friend Kayleigh Smith, brave Laura will take to the skies in St Andrew’s on June 4 for an exhilarating skydive fundraiser.
Laura told Lanarkshire Live : “This is something I’ve always wanted to do, and now we’re out of lockdown, I want to help raise as much as possible for the two charities that helped me when I needed it most.
“Being a child hospice I didn’t want to go to Rachel House at first, but it really has the most amazing atmosphere, so positive and happy, everyone had a smile on their face.
“It touched me so much, I scattered Mark’s ashes in nearby Loch Leven. Mark was in less pain when he was in a bath, so I liked the idea of him being in the water in such a beautiful, peaceful place.”
Nursery nurse Laura, who has since had two more boys - Niko, 14, and Zak, 12 - was just 17 when she went through the agony of losing her first child.
With baby's bones only starting to develop at 20 weeks, the disease went undetected in earlier pregnancy scans leading Laura to believe her son was perfectly healthy.
It was only when Mark arrived by ceserean section at Bellshill Maternity that she knew something was terribly wrong.
“The second he was born I knew something was wrong,” Laura told us. “They quickly showed me him then he was whisked away and the room filled with doctors.
“All his bones had formed the wrong way, he had extra bends and his ribs were restricting his lungs. His breathing was shallow and rapid.
“I was told he didn’t have long to live - six weeks. I was only 17 at the time, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through.”
Laura was told Mark's condition was so serious that, had she delivered naturally, he would have died instantly at birth.
But the tot defied all odds, surviving for those seven special months and even spent his final days at home - something Laura says medics never expected to see and what she describes as her “greatest achievement”.
Laura added: “Sadly Mark had a cold, which is quite a serious thing with brittle bone - he was constantly on oxygen and morphine and lots of different painkillers.
“He went to sleep at home - the doctors never expected from the look on their faces when I insisted I was going to get him home, but I did.
"That was my greatest achievement.”
Laura struggled to process the death of her baby boy and fell into a dark place before finding the invaluable support of Child Bereavement UK.
“I found it really difficult to leave the house, I didn’t want to face people asking me how I was”, she said. “I hated seeing people with prams and pregnant women. I was really in a dark place for a long time.
“Child Bereavement UK gave me counselling support and really helped me through that horrible time. I still have bad days, I don’t think that will ever change, but what gets me through is talking about Mark - and I love talking about him.
“Even remembering the hard times with tears streaming down my face, talking about him gives me so much joy as that was the precious time I had with my child.
“And now I help my other boys with the difficult subject of death by telling them Mark is the brightest star in the sky and always there for them.”
During the COVID pandemic, Rachel House could only cater for one family at a time where they usually help eight families with end-of-life care.
With a fundraising target of £1000, Laura is determined to raise as much money as possible for the vital service when she takes the plunge in her fundraiser this summer.
An auction and raffle is also being organised to add to the pot at the Salmon Leap on May 21 with some fantastic prizes donated by local businesses including a two-night stay at a glamping pod, Celtic and Rangers signed memorabilia, tattoo vouchers and a driving lesson.
Laura added: “I’m really excited about the skydive. I know on the day I’ll be a bag of nerves, but my focus is on raising as much funds as I can.
“Rachel House gave me the respite I needed during the most stressful time in my life. They took over and I knew Mark was in the best of hands.
“The fun, laughter and memories that can be made there are enough to last a lifetime. And Child Bereavement UK helped me get through by showing me I wasn’t alone. At times like this you just need to talk.”
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