How do I start a post like this and do it justice?
How do I find the right words to help you all understand how essential it is to support such an important cause?
If you are a mother already then I hope that reading just one story of another mother and family affected by SIDS will be enough to make you want to help...
I began following Jennie ( @edspire ) a few days after the tragic death of her beautiful baby Matilda Mae aged 9 months. Tilda was a true 'blog baby' Jennie began blogging after the birth of her twins Esther and William 3 years ago who were IVF babies born 13 weeks prematurely and spent a long time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). She wanted to document and have a written reminder of their journey and anyone who has ever read just one of her posts wants to carry on and read more.
She writes in such an honest, raw, engaging way that you feel like you are on her journey with her.
Matilda Mae was a surprise baby for Jennie and her husband David-conceived naturally despite doctors telling them that would never happen.
Jennie blogged about her pregnancy and the birth of Matilda Mae and family life juggling 3 children under 2 years old.
On 2nd February 2013 Jennie put baby Tilda to bed as she usually would in the same way that she and millions of other mums around the world do every night.
Tragically, when she went upstairs to give her the usual late feed, she found that her beautiful blog baby was dead-another baby cruelly taken by SIDS.
This is Jennies post written about that night:
https://www.edspire.co.uk/year_2013/02/04/dear-matilda-mae-the-night-we-found-you-sleeping/
SIDS is something that terrifies every parent-the one thing that feels totally out of our control, that we can't protect our children from completely. There are things we can do to reduce the risk-details of which you can find on The Lullaby Trust website.
Despite her constant daily heartache Jennie has made it her mission to work tirelessly with to The lullaby Trust and Bliss to raise awareness of SIDS and already organised many events in memory of Matilda Mae, donating all funds to The Lullaby Trust. To date over 15,000 has been raised with the help of family and friends and there are still plans to do more.
The essential one are a small family owned business who specialise in newborn clothes and blankets for the first year of your baby's life. Jennie regularly dressed baby Tilda in their clothes
https://www.edspire.co.uk/year_2013/01/17/snow-essentials-from-the-essential-one/
and they have very kindly designed a knitted hat with pastel pink and lilac soft stars, exclusively in memory of Matilda Mae.
https://www.theessentialone.com/matilda-mae-knitted-star-hat.html
I bought one for my little girl which she and I both LOVE
100% of the sales proceeds are given to The lullaby Trust in baby Tilda's memory
You can buy these hats directly from The essential one
Today, 2nd December,it is exactly 10 months since the day MM died
I have 4 to post out to some very lucky babies in return for you sharing this post and making a small donation using this link.
https://www.justgiving.com/mmstarlightfund
None of us can change what has happened to Jennies family, but I hope by donating and showing our support it will go a little way to reminding Jennie that we are all behind her 100%
Every bubble I blow with my children makes me think of MM
Everytime I see a pink or purple star I am reminded of her smiling face on Jennies blog
Whenever I light I candle I think back to the candles I lit on the day of her funeral, her 1st birthday and the night Jennie and David sent her ashes out to sea
https://www.edspire.co.uk/year_2013/05/02/tildas-ashes-at-coombe-mill/
I for one will NEVER forget Matilda Mae's name or beautiful little face.
R.I.P sweet angel
Please support and help baby Tilda's legacy live on
https://www.justgiving.com/mmstarlightfund
