When Zoe was born almost two years ago we could never have predicted how our lives would change. She was severely brain damaged as a result of a hypoxic injury during labour and was diagnosed as having hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). It was the last thing we had expected for our baby and we felt completely lost. In those first few weeks I was lucky enough to find Hope for HIE. A group of parents just like me who had been where we were. They knew about the ups and downs of life in the NICU and were there 24 hours a day to answer my questions, even though they had doubtless heard the same questions many times before.

Tragically, we lost our girl. She died at just six weeks old after her injuries proved too great for her little body. Hope for HIE were there for me then as well, with kind words, love and support. Eventually a number of the other ‘loss’ parents and I even started our own HIE loss support group which has become like a family to me.

Now, to celebrate Zoe’s 2nd birthday I want to honour her memory by giving something back to Hope for HIE. They have recently become an official not for profit organization and they use these donations to (among other things) provide care packages to families in hospitals as well as memorial gifts to those who have sadly lost a child. This cause is very close to my heart, it would mean so much to us if you could make a donation, no matter how small.

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me.

-Emily Dickinson

 

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