Held Close: Faith and Hope

When Katie gave birth to her twin girls, Faith and Hope, at just 23 weeks, she was thrown into a journey no parent can ever prepare for.

After a difficult pregnancy, experiencing severe sickness and continuous pain, Katie’s waters broke unexpectedly at home and she was rushed to hospital. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, her labour progressed quickly and her twins were born.

Very sadly, baby Faith passed away shortly after birth. Her tiny sister Hope, weighing just 461 grams, was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children. She would spend the next five months in neonatal care, undergoing two high-risk surgeries along the way.

During those difficult months, charity-funded support helped Katie and her partner John stay connected to their daughters, make precious memories and feel close to Hope, even when they couldn’t be by her side.

Through Little Inky Feet, Katie and John were able to have precious prints made of their daughters’ tiny hands and feet – something Katie says she couldn’t have known at the time just how much they would come to mean.

“I wasn’t able to think clearly about what would be important to have in the future. Thankfully, there were people there who could think about that for us. We really treasure our prints, and John has been able to get a tattoo with both girls’ footprints on it.”

They were also able to pay tribute to Faith with a remembrance leaf, provided by the charity, on the Remembrance Tree in the hospital Sanctuary.

“It was something we could do as parents, even when life had been turned upside down.”

For Hope, Miniboos offered another way for the family to stay close. These soft comforter blankets can be swapped between parents and babies, carrying their familiar scent and helping maintain that connection when they have to be apart.

Years later, they still have a special place in Hope’s heart.

“Hope still absolutely loves her Miniboos. She takes them everywhere with her!”

Charity-funded vCreate also meant Katie and John could receive secure photos and videos of Hope when they had to leave the hospital overnight – providing reassurance during the long months their daughter spent in neonatal care.

“The doctors and nurses are amazing. You know they really care about every family they look after. I used to get upset when I had to go home and leave Hope in hospital, so knowing she was being so well cared for and getting little updates meant the world to me.”

Today, Hope is thriving. Despite the uncertainty surrounding what the future might hold for her in those early months, she is now running around, chatting away and enjoying her new role as big sister to baby Anthony.

“We were told she might not be able to walk or talk, but she’s running around and chatting away! She was born fighting and hasn’t stopped ever since. She’s our wee miracle and we can’t thank everyone who helped us enough.”

Katie and John have supported Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity since the early days of Hope’s hospital stay, and now they’re involving Hope too. Together, the family have taken part in Kami Bear’s Teddy Trail as one of the ways they give back.

“We want Hope to know her story and all about the people who helped us so much. This is us showing her how important it is to give back in life. We want her to grow up knowing that when you’re supported through difficult times, you can go on to do the same for others.”

By sharing Faith and Hope’s story, Katie and John hope to help other families facing a neonatal journey.

Donations to Held Close can help fund the little things that make an enormous difference – helping families make precious memories, stay connected to their baby and feel close, even when they can’t be together.