Baby brings joy to family hit by bomb tragedy
BABY Dylan is a shining light in a dark Christmas for Lauren Lees and her family.
As she sheds tears of joy and grief in near equal measure Lauren cradles her beautiful newborn son.
Missing from the celebrations has been Lauren’s beloved mum Lisa from Royton, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing in May.
When Lauren had her first son, seven-year-old Jayden, Lisa was her soulmate, friend – and birthing partner.
“We could gave been sisters,” Lauren says.
She believes Lisa, just 43 when she was killed, is watching over them even now, like a guardian angel.
In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Lauren, 26, says: “Dylan will bring joy to people. He is beautiful and he already reminds me of my mum.
“When my mum found out I was expecting she sent me a text saying: ‘I’m so excited about this baby, I can’t stop thinking about it.’
“When I found out I was pregnant I was having a difficult time in my career.
“My mum’s support meant everything and she loved and encouraged me.
“She’d have loved to have had a son herself and call him Dylan, so I wanted to pay tribute to her with the name.
“Our first Christmas without mum has also been our first with Dylan so it has been so bittersweet. I wish nothing more than for her to be here to see the grandson she will never meet, but I know she is looking down on us.”
Lisa had learned Lauren was pregnant just days before the fateful Ariana Grande gig.
Dylan’s dad Chris Dugdale, 29, stepped up as birthing partner at The Royal Oldham Hospital, where the tot weighed in at 8lbs 15oz on December 23.
Lauren added: “My mum was so excited about Dylan I think it’s made my bond stronger with him. I feel so close to him because I knew how much she wanted him.
“Christmas was my mum’s favourite time. Dylan has brightened all of our Christmases up a little bit, he’s brought a lot of cheer and we feel a little happier.”
Recalling May 22, Lauren said: “The last time I saw my mum was when she dropped me off.
“I realised I had left my coat in the back so I ran up the road and banged on her car window, I made her jump out of her skin.
“My last memory of her is pulling my coat out and hearing her laughing. She waved and off she went.”
Lauren, factory worker Chris and Lisa’s mum Elaine, 63, later visited the crime scene.
Lisa’s funeral took place in Royton, Oldham, at St Ann’s Church. A few days before, Lauren visited her mum in the chapel of rest. “That’s when it hit home,” she says. “I prefer to remember her when I hear her favourite song, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, playing in a shop.
“Or when I go to a place that reminds me of her. When I talk to her at the cemetery, tell her I miss her.”
Lauren said: “One day, when Dylan’s a lot older, I’ll tell him the whole story about how we lost her. But for now, I’ll tell him he’s got a nana and she’s an angel who looks down on him from heaven.” »»The Sunday Mirror, the Observer’s sister title, would like to thank Mothercare for donating a baby wardrobe for Dylan and to Argos for donating Christmas gifts for Jayden.