Why St Mary’s ?
Our Story
The Journey of Love, Loss, and Gratitude
In November 2002, our lives took a beautiful turn when we found out we were expecting our first child.
The joy was overwhelming; it felt like a dream come true.
Ella was born the next August, and her arrival brought us an abundance of happiness.
Jean’s pregnancy with her was seamless, creating a spark of hope in our hearts for the future.
However, our journey took an unexpected and painful turn when we decided to try again for another baby two years later.
Jean conceived easily once more, but the joy turned to heartbreak when she miscarried at nine weeks.
The emotional devastation was indescribable for both of us, yet we tried to rationalise it, believing that it was simply nature's way.
We thought we would take a couple of months to heal and try again, but more heartache awaited us.
Over The Next Few Years
Over the next few years, we experienced three more miscarriages—two at ten weeks and one at twelve.
Each loss cut deeper, filling our hearts with sorrow and confusion.
The most heartbreaking part was sitting in the ultrasound waiting room, watching couples holding their joyful scan pictures while we were there, confronting the possibility of another loss.
The silence from friends and family was painfully loud.
Another Heartbreaking Loss
Recurrent Miscarriage Department At St Mary’s Hospital
Some tried to reassure us by saying we were lucky to have one child, while others called us selfish for wanting more.
We felt an overwhelming sense of guilt, questioning if this was somehow our fault.
After enduring our fourth miscarriage, we took a brave step forward and were referred to St Mary’s Hospital's Recurrent Miscarriage Department.
Their compassion and professionalism made a world of difference. Over the next few months, Jean underwent a barrage of tests which eventually revealed that she had a blood clotting disorder.
This condition was stealing oxygen from our developing babies, causing repeated losses.
Hope At Last
Receiving this diagnosis brought mixed emotions; relief to finally understand the reason behind our heartbreak, but also anger that it wasn’t identified sooner.
Armed with this knowledge, Jean began a treatment plan that involved taking two aspirin a day once she conceived.
From the moment Jean became pregnant again, we proceeded on a tight schedule of weekly scans, waiting to see that precious flicker of a heartbeat and to confirm that our baby was thriving.
The team at St Mary’s was nothing short of incredible. They listened, reassured, and supported us through our fears.
Their diligence resulted in a successful pregnancy, and at 39 weeks, we welcomed our second daughter, Sienna, one week earlier than expected.
Delighted and full of gratitude, we took part in a medical study that allowed us to contribute to research by sending part of Sienna's umbilical cord for stem cell research, enabling St Mary’s to explore connections with miscarriages further.
Our gratitude to St Mary’s Hospital is enduring.
They not only helped bring Sienna and later, our son Xavier, into our lives, but they also offered compassion when we needed it most.
Giving Back - To Help Others
Our heartbreak has transformed into a force of motivation.
That’s Why We Are Raising Funds.
Today, we strive to give back to St Mary’s Hospital through fundraising efforts, allowing them to continue their vital work with families like ours.
We firmly believe that every couple and individual struggling with the challenge of recurrent miscarriage deserves to be heard, to receive timely interventions, and ultimately, hope for a family.
We want to ensure that the experiences we went through can help others who may find themselves lost in a situation far too many face in silence.
Your support enables further research, better treatments, and ongoing compassionate care—not just for us, but for countless families who deserve the chance to realise their dreams of parenthood.
Thank you for joining us in this heartfelt mission!