Amanda Holden

[p]As part of Baby Loss Awareness Week, I am setting up a fund via Tommy’s in memory of my son.[/p][p][b]It will be known as Theo's Hope.[/b][/p][vmgvideo class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wGsXyn1jGUc?showinfo=0&rel=0&iv_load_policy=3"][/vmgvideo][p][br][/p][p]3,430 babies are stillborn every year, with half of the tragedies totally unexplained - as in Theo's case. Parents, like me, are left to agonise about what went wrong and if it could happen again. [/p][p]Not having the support of a counsellor, or family nearby, can have desperate consequences. Leading to depression, panic attacks and in some cases suicidal thoughts.[/p][p]I was lucky, and had fantastic care through the NHS, and through friends and family. [b] [/b][/p][p][b]But not everyone is so lucky….[/b][/p][p]Most parents are left struggling to cope with their feelings, not knowing who to turn to, with no access to bereavement counselling or long waiting lists that leave them isolated with their grief.[/p][p][b]I believe together we can change this[/b][/p][p]If we can fund a full-time bereavement counsellor at Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre in Manchester, and show the value of having access to counselling services can bring to bereaved parents in urgent need, hopefully it can in future be rolled out across the NHS, helping parents across the UK to deal with their pain.[/p][p]No-one can 'cure' the pain caused by losing a baby, but providing access to counselling can help parents to heal and get on with living their lives.[/p][p]Thank you,[/p][p]Amanda x[/p][p][i]Photos below of my recent visit to Tommy's Stillbirth Research Centre and Rainbow Clinic at St Mary's Hospital, Manchester.[/i][/p]