Following the recent storyline in popular ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a local couple have spoken out about their continued fight to raise awareness of the distress and trauma that parents, whose babies are stillborn, face. The lack of support and information available for parents of stillborn babies sparked Sian and Martin Coopey into action three years ago.

After the stillbirth of their son Rocky-Lee, they wanted to help others in the same position and created Rocky-Lee’s Little Feet charity.

“We were stunned to discover in the weeks after his birth that there are on average 11 stillbirths every day in the UK alone. That’s 11 families that have to go through this nightmare. I wondered with statistics this daunting why we, as mothers,  are not made more aware”

“Nobody during their pregnancy wants to be scared but a little knowledge could go a long way,” said Sian.

The latest project they have embarked on is creating a “breaking bad news” room at Hereford County Hospital; The Snowdrop Room is a quiet, non-clinical room that gives families somewhere to go away from the ward to receive news and be supported.

The charity’s latest plans will see them refurbishing a room within the existing delivery suite, for stillbirth deliveries. It will be equipped with furnishings to provide a home from home, hotel room feel so that couples and families can spend time together with their baby in a less clinical-feeling environment.

The team are also looking for funding and sponsorship of items for the bereavement suite, which would give parents and family members a quiet place to go, after they have endured a miscarriage or stillbirth.

Katie Farmer, Wye Valley NHS Trust Fundraiser said: “We’re very grateful to Sian, Martin and their team for their continued support, both with their generous donations and in providing support to families when they need it most. Their input and vision to take our maternity department forward has been invaluable.”

The charity started supplying memory bears to Hereford County Hospital’s maternity department in conjunction with the Aching Arms UK charity.

They also purchased a digital camera to enable parents to have photographs of their babies and continue to provide the necessary equipment to print these for parents to keep. They also provide ongoing funding for wicker baskets.

In 2016 Rocky-Lee donated a cuddle cot to the ward. A cuddle cot enables babies to be taken home, should parents wish. The charity is continuing to work with the County Hospital’s maternity department to help improve both the facilities and education and assist the bereavement services team.

Rocky-Lee not only helps bereaved parents at the hospital, but also helps fund headstones. In July last year the charity held a fire walk in Ross-on-Wye that raised £5,000 and they are continuing to raise funds. If you’d like more information about Rocky-Lee’s Little Feet, please get in contact with Sian; email [email protected]  or visit www.rockyleeslittlefeet.co.uk.