A Scots mum suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage while she marked the fifth anniversary of her eldest son's stillbirth.
Sarah and Chris Cunningham, from West Lothian, have tragically lost two children in five years and have now spoken about the vital support they received from a charity.
The family's life turned upside down in 2017 when Sarah went into labour at just 28-weeks and her first child Cailean was stillborn.
Edinburgh Live reports the family have received huge support from local charity Held in Our Hearts, and they have been trying to give back over the last few months, walking Kiltwalks in Edinburgh, Glasgow and even Dundee.
Speaking about the challenge, Sarah and Chris, who are now parents to daughter Isla, said: “Our son Cailean was stillborn at 28 weeks, in July 2017. He would have turned five this year.
"Five years since we heard those dreadful words - 'there is no heartbeat'. Five years of learning how to navigate life without him here with us."
Powering on with their fundraising, the couple were hit with another tragedy earlier this year, when Sarah suffered a miscarriage at ten weeks pregnant.
Now relying on the charity again for support, they shared how it has made their efforts on the Kiltwalks even more important.
Sarah added: “I should have been walking the Kiltwalks whilst pregnant for the third time.
"Unfortunately, I miscarried at just ten 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 is 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."
With their last event being the virtual Kiltwalk, Sarah and Chris completed the challenge during Baby Loss Awareness Week on October 11, which also would have been Cailean’s due date.
Chris 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.”
Nicola Welsh, Chief Executive Officer for Held In Our Hearts said: “We are so grateful to Sarah and Chris for choosing to support us in this way and 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.”
You can find more information on Held in our Hearts here.
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