‘HENRY LIVED FOR FIVE DAYS... IT WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME’
Now family are fundraising for charity that helped them through tragedy of losing son
A MUM has told how her world was torn to pieces after losing her precious baby boy at just five days old.
Beth and Daniel Pett had been looking forward to their first child with new carpets already fitted in Henry’s freshly-painted bedroom.
But during the pregnancy they were told their son was growing ‘very slowly’ which triggered their anxiety.
Beth – a former pupil at Alleyne’s High School, in Stone – was in hospital for a few days before Henry’s birth on August 13, 2020.
On the day of his birth she was given a heart-breaking ultimatum – he would die inside her or she could have an emergency caesarean to give him a chance of survival. Beth chose the caesarean.
Being just 26-weeks gestation, Henry was placed in an incubator when he was born. He sadly died five days later with his family by his side.
Beth, aged 28, said: “We’d had lots of scans because he wasn’t growing particularly well.
“I wasn’t sick and felt great within myself but it was just really scary because we were told my placenta wasn’t working well so we were in and out of hospital.
“I was in the hospital when they checked the baby. They said the blood flow to Henry had stopped in my placenta and so they had to do an emergency caesarean to try to give him a chance to live.
“They asked whether I wanted to give him a chance to live or for him to pass away inside me. We wanted him to live so we had the C-section.
“He came out in his amniotic sack which they said was really special. We were were overwhelmed with joy and relief that he was alive.
“We were full of love for him but also scared at the same time because he was so fragile.
“They were so positive at the hospital and kept saying he was doing amazingly and that he was a little miracle so we were hopeful.”
Beth and Daniel were allowed to stay at the hospital in the days running up to Henry’s death. Other family members were allowed to visit when a decision was made to switch off the incubator.
Beth added: “He lived for five days and it was the most wonderful time that we had with him. I didn’t get to hold him until he was dying.
“We saw him every day and got to change his nappy and touch his feet and let him hold our hands. We sang and read to him.
“It was the worst day of our lives. At the start it was trying to get through each day, we cried constantly. All I felt was I needed a sibling for him, something to live for but Daniel was really scared about having a sibling for Henry.”
The family are now left with a memory box of teddy bears and blankets for Henry – and there is always a space for him in their hearts.
They welcomed their little girl – Emelia – into the world five months ago and say Henry had been watching over them during the pregnancy.
Now Henry’s aunt – Georgia Burgess, from Stone – is taking part in a 15,000ft skydive in memory of her beloved nephew.
It takes place on August 11 this year, just before his second birthday and Georgia is fundraising for the Stillbirth and Neonatal Deaths Society (SANDS).
Beth added: “SANDS were so lovely when we got in touch with them. Because of covid they didn’t have meet-ups but they had Zoom calls which we had with other bereaved parents in the area.
“It actually helped talking to people who have been through the same thing and seeing you could survive and function again after losing your child. There is always someone there if you want to call them, it’s a lifeline when you feel so alone.
“Georgia has been wonderful in raising this money, there’s been so much support. Everyone has been really generous.”