Just A Little Mile

As a parent my life is full of fear- you know how it goes right?

You go into the delivery room with one kind of brain and come out with

one donated from a crazy woman? 

You didn't feel them replace your old brain as you were 

concentrating on the watermelon wrapped in glass paper 

emerging from your nether regions :-)

You first notice this on the way home in the car...............

There are other cars on the road NEAR YOUR BABY!!!! How did they get there?

Didn't anyone tell them that you had a baby in your car and it's fragile. "Hey you!, don't drive near me, oi! matey, don't come near my baby",.... and that's just the first few hours.

On it goes, "it's too hot", "it's hungry", "shall I pick it up?", "why is it making that noise", "does it look blotchy, oh no is that a rash?, what's that on its face?"

and any parent who says they haven't had this conversation is telling huge porky pies...

"It's been asleep a long time?

"It's very quiet"

"It isn't moving much"

"Are you sure it's ok?"

"Get a mirror,"

"no don't put the lights on,"

"what do you mean you can't find it",

"shhhhh "

'putting ear to babies mouth'

"I think it's ok...."

"here's the mirror"

"about time"

"put the light on I can't see"

"oh hell it's awake now"

"at least it's ok 'yawn'"

"shhhh go back to sleep".....

Thankfully for most of us it's panic for nothing. We manage the first year unscathed or at least the baby looks ok despite the mushed veg up the nostrils and the amount of poop it's made.
So you breathe a sigh of relief at twelve months...

"phew"

Because that's what we all used to be led to believe - after twelve months the risk of cot death is almost gone

                      BIG FAT WRONG

Unfortunately, some parents find this out by having their worst nightmares realised.
Parents such as Ian & Nicola Richardson. A beautiful family, young & full of dreams had the worst happen to them in 2007. Nicola has told her heartwrenching story here. I defy any parent or indeed anyone to read this story and not need tissues. I have vivid memories of the days that followed - being a parent of children almost the same age it struck terror and such sadness in me and many other people that knew the family. Alexander was 18 months old, a twin, utterly adored and amazingly beautiful.

 In association with The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) and in loving memory of Alexander Nicola organises and walks "A Mile in Memory"each year. Her walk takes place on:

Saturday 15th May
11:00 - 14:00
Cannon Hall Park, Barnsley.

There are walks taking place all over the UK, all on the same day, at the same time. It's just a mile- not a race. It can be a leisurely stroll with some friends or with your pushchair. You can join in with Nicolas walk by R.S.V.P via her walks facebook page  or any of the others via the FSID link above.

If you can't manage to join in with any of the walks please can you consider a donation to Nicolas 'Just Giving' page. All of the money raised will be used to support the work that FSID do including:

• Funding research
• Supporting families whose babies have died suddenly and unexpectedly
• Disseminating information on infant health, baby care and sudden infant deaths to health professionals and the general public
• Working with professionals to improve investigations when a baby dies The services offered by FSID include:
• A Helpline for parents, carers and health professionals and bereaved families
• A wide range of publications and resources on reducing the risk of cot death and safe baby care
• A network of trained befrienders to support bereaved families
• A phone card to enable bereaved parents to call our Helpline free of charge
• A busy programme of training, events and Family Days Out throughout the UK
• The Care of Next Infant (CONI) Scheme, with the NHS, to support bereaved families when they have subsequent babies.

Which incidentally ties in nicely with happy news for these incredibly brave parents - they have a beautiful new baby boy.
I am sure I am not alone in wishing them and him a very long, happy & healthy life watched over by their angel Alex from above.