Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Balloons released in tribute to tragic twins
‘You have good days and bad days but fortunately our little girl has taken the focus away from it
After suffering the tragedy of stillborn twins a mum has raised money for a bereavement charity which provided her support.
Jade and Daniel Lock were devastated when they found out at a 20-week scan that their identical twins had died from twin to twin transfusion syndrome.
The expectant mother, who lives in Littlebourne, received the shocking news on January 26 and delivered the babies on January 29.
The couple, who have a 23-month-old daughter, Ari- ana, have since received support from the charity Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (Sands).
Jade said: “Since the birth it’s been up and down. You have good days and bad days but fortunately our little girl has taken the focus away from it.
“My family and my husband were there to support me as I went through this and continue to do so.
“I also used the charity for support and they put me in touch with other women who had been in similar circumstances to speak to.
“I did get in touch with one woman but at the time I wasn’t ready to discuss it further.
“I thought it was a really good idea especially if you have never been through it yourself.”
Jade, who works at Busy Bees nursery, organised a balloon release at the Riverside Children’s Centre in Kingsmead on June 17 in memory of her twins and to raise awareness of Sands.
She said: “I held it on my original due date as I thought it would be a nice way to remember them.
“None of the parents knew that I was even pregnant up until that point.
“I decided I wanted to speak out because child loss is a topic people don’t like discussing before the birth and I knew a few parents there had been through it too.”
More than 250 balloons were sold along with a tombola on the day, which raised almost £350 for Sands.
For more information about the charity visit www.uksands.org.