A local couple has raised £3,500 for the hospital they were treated at in memory of their baby boy, Micah, who was stillborn in 2012.
Charlotte Nall, aged 32 from Solihull and husband Gavin, raised the funds to refurbish the bereavement room on ward 1 at Heartlands Hospital to give families who have lost a child a more comfortable environment.
For Charlotte, going through this difficult time was the driving force behind the decision to write a book to support bereaved families enduring miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death, and from there to set up the Charity Littlefingers. The Nalls have organised fundraising events and received donations from friends, family and local businesses including Aston Villa Football Club who teamed up with Clements 83, from Birmingham’s Coronation Football League to host a charity football match.
Charlotte said: “We found the staff at Heartlands to be absolutely brilliant in what was for us extremely emotional circumstances. We wanted to do this to show our gratitude and also make sure other families in such a dark and difficult time are given the best possible care.
“We were blown away by the kindness of strangers. The money will go towards more furnishings for the room including pictures, a stereo and a reclining sofa for partners to sleep on so that they can be there to comfort the ladies as they go through this awful time.”
Rachel Small, a midwife at the hospital, said: “We are so thankful to Littlefingers, staff and Aston Villa Football Club for the generous donation to refurbish the bereavement room. It is important to give couples a pleasant private room during the saddest day of their life.”
Littlefingers are holding a black tie charity ball on Saturday 16th April at St John’s Hotel in Solihull to raise funds to refurbish the bereavement room at Good Hope Hospital. For further information about the event, see littlefingers.org.uk
If you are interested in fundraising for your local hospital, call the fundraising team on 0121 424 3838, or email fundraising@heartofengland.nhs.uk