Mum set to honour ‘beautiful’ baby son
ABRAVE mum is preparing for a charity skydive in honour of her “beautiful” baby boy who died before his first birthday.
Laura Cunningham gave birth to Mark on February 8, 1999. Now 40, the nursery nurse is raising funds in his memory, along with her friend Kayleigh Smith, 32.
Mark was only given weeks to live after being diagnosed with the most severe form of brittle bone disease, but the brave tot defied the odds and went on to live for seven more months.
The disease was detected when baby Mark arrived by caesarean section at Bellshill Maternity Hospital.
Laura, who was only 17 when she went through the agony of losing her baby, said: “The second he was born I knew something was wrong. They quickly showed me him then he was whisked away, and the room filled with doctors.
“I didn’t get to hold him until he was a week-old. He was the most beautiful baby with these gorgeous blue eyes. I felt so protective of him and didn’t want to ever leave him.
“Every day I had with him was a blessing. Even though he was
in a lot of pain all the time because of his condition he was still such a happy wee soul.
“As the months went on his personality started to develop and he loved getting and giving cuddles, having wee gurgle conversations and being pushed fast in his pram.
“He was a right wee character and loved listening to Classic FM and would actually get upset if you switched the channel over.
“He also loved baths the water seemed to soothe his pain and he would have one four or five times a day.”
Laura, who has since had two more boys – Niko, 14, and Zak, 12 – is raising funds for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and Child Bereavement
UK, two charities which provided valuable support to her following the death of Mark.
When she first visited CHAS’ Rachel House, she admitted being apprehensive.
“I thought it would be a morbid, depressing place but it was the exact opposite and had such a positive atmosphere,” Laura said.
“The staff were all caring and friendly and Mark loved it too. He enjoyed the multisensory room and being pushed fast around the gorgeous gardens. I enjoyed the gardens too, the music room and the lovely walks nearby.
“I felt like CHAS held my hand through all my heartache and grief and I wanted to give something back to help other families going through what I went through.”
Laura developed such a strong connection to the hospice that she continued to stay in touch with the charity after Mark’s death and began fundraising for them and donating toys and clothes.
And because of Mark’s love of water, she decided to scatter his ashes at Loch Leven, near Rachel House. Laura also found invaluable support through Child Bereavement UK.
She said: “I found it really difficult to leave the house, I didn’t want to face people asking me how I was. I hated seeing people with prams and pregnant women. I was really in a dark place for a long time.
“The charity gave me counselling support and really helped me through that horrible time. I still have bad days, I don’t think that will ever change, but what gets me through is talking about Mark which I love doing.”
Laura recently held a fundraising evening at the Salmon Leap pub in East Kilbride which raised £2000 and is now looking ahead to her skydive with Kayleigh on Saturday at Fife Airport.
She said: “I know on the day I’ll be a bag of nerves, but my focus will be on Mark on the day and on raising as many funds as I can in his memory.
“I am so grateful for each and every donation.”
To donate, visit https://just giving.com/team/Team LauraandKayleigh