As the majority know, in May 2018 me and John lost our Son in the womb at 15 weeks, Roman-John.

As part of the grieving process, James Cook offer a place of remembrance in the Memorial garden located between the High dependency delivery suite and the Neonatal ward. Here, at your leisure, you’re able to add things to remember your baby. As many of you may have passed throughout the years, you’ll have seen toys, flowers, plaques and cards all set up in little areas where individual baby’s are remembered. Some dating from the 90’s.

This is the last place our baby journeys to and it’s only right we’re able to continue their memory in the place we were able to bring them into the world. Continue their memory with their siblings/family in a positive and happy place.

As any Parent/Person would understand, losing a child is one of the single most traumatic things that can happen to anybody. Some of these losses come away with answers, others don’t. No loss is made easier. The pain doesn’t go, it doesn’t become easier, it just becomes a way of life. A part of that way of life is having the comfort that Roman-John is remembered in the place he was able to be brought into the world, where he was able to be with his Mam and Dad.

James Cook have issued plans to have this Memorial Garden removed and turned into a park for children of parents visiting the Women’s and Children’s wards. Although, initially, this might sound logical for the people attending the hospital. The comforting place that has been the final home for babies born sleeping will now be removed. It will not be located in a different area, it’ll just be replaced with a tree. I’ve thought about having my own memorial garden in my garden, but this doesn’t seem fitting, to me, this is the final place for pets. And although pets are considered a part of the family, I’d hate the thought of having my Son alongside where people bury their animals.

Roman-John, like many other babies was born before term. This meant he wasn’t issued with a birth/death certificate and was considered a miscarriage. Like many other parents, he was very much here, very much a part of our heart. This, because he was born before term, is his only place we’re able to visit and say hello. We’re able to see his name, and see that he was here, he was with us all, that his loss isn’t forgotten or hidden. My beautiful boy touched this Earth and settled in a beautiful place.

The reason I write this, the reason I speak so personally, is because I’m creating a petition to change these plans. 10,000 signatures to a petition will make the plans be reconsidered and so many babies final resting place untouched.

I speak for so many people when I say this garden being removed removes the jigsaw piece in our grief, that makes loss bearable. I’m begging anybody to sign and share this petition. Everyone experiences loss in their life, just imagine the loved one you were able to see resting in a beautiful place, that place would be getting changes made to it and your loved one would have no longer a place to rest. Your grief would be multiplied. Please, sign, share and put the word out there.