This story discusses baby loss
A fundraising couple whose baby son was stillborn at Walsall Manor Hospital have continued trying to help other grieving families.
Katie Perry and Liam Riley-Stewart lost their son Layton on 9 July 2024 and were so grateful for the support they received to enable them to spend precious time with him in the days that followed they vowed to “give something back” to Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
In October 2024, Katie and Liam bought a cuddle cot in little Layton’s memory and handed it over to Laura Atkinson, Specialist Bereavement Midwife, and Georgie Westley, Fundraising Manager at the Trust. Cuddle cots keep babies’ bodies at a cooler temperature meaning they can spend more time with their parents after they have passed away.
As they wanted to continue supporting bereavement services and bereaved parents, Katie came back to the hospital earlier this week to see Laura and Georgie with a privacy pram. The couple, who have a daughter Lyla, three, have been able to buy the pram following their latest fundraising drive. The pram, which carries the message Please respect my privacy, means parents can transport their babies discreetly and safely within the hospital setting.
Businesses rallied round to provide Katie with raffle prizes to raise the cash needed to buy the pram through the 4Louis charity that works across the country to support anyone affected by the death of a baby or child. The charity also works to improve healthcare for bereaved Families.
Katie said: “We wanted to provide an alternative for parents as opposed to having to rely on colder, clinical approaches to taking their baby to the mortuary for example and the privacy pram also means parents can take their baby for a walk discreetly too. It’s important those of us who have lost a baby have the chance to make our memories too and get to do the things we would have done if we had been able to take our babies home.”
The pram has a sticker on it saying: Donated in Memory of Layton Jay Thierry Riley-Stewart, the same as the cuddle cot that Katie, 28, and Liam, 25, handed over in October 2024.
“We’ve always said we’ll do anything we can to help and give back because everyone was so kind and compassionate to us on the bereavement suite when we lost Layton,” added Katie.
She has also set up Little Lights, a support group for those who have lost babies and children, which runs at Pelsall Community and Arts Centre every month. The next session is 12noon on Sunday 22 February. Little lights provides a safe space for bereaved parents to meet and support one another. It is open to all bereaved parents regardless of the nature of their loss and no matter how long ago.
Bereavement Midwife Laura said: “We are so thankful to Katie and Liam for buying this privacy pram for us, it will make such a difference to our bereaved families and their babies. It really does feel like Layton’s legacy, and he would be so proud of his incredible mummy and daddy who are, despite their own grief, so dedicated to helping others who have suffered loss.
Fundraising Manager Georgie added: “This donation will help so many other families who go through this tragedy and our Well Wishers charity really appreciates Katie and Liam’s kindness.”