Early 2025, Jolene faced the unimaginable – saying hello and goodbye to her twin boys, Isaac and Luca, born sleeping at just five months into her pregnancy. Her sons, though only here briefly, are her entire world.
Jolene’s experience is one of heartbreak, strength, and the enduring bone between parent and child. It is also a powerful reminder of how vital compassionate, dedicated care is in the darkest of moments, and why CHFT Charity’s Maternity Bereavement Appeal means so much.
As Jolene went into labour, everything changed. Her water broke unexpectedly, and with that, a journey began that no parent every imagines taking. Though her twins were small, her labour was intense, “give me my 9lb boy over these tiny bodies any day”, she later said. A midwife explained that this happens when the head knows to let go, but the heart simply isn’t ready.
As labour progressed, Jolene met Hannah, one of our experienced midwives at Calderdale Royal Hospital, someone Jolene calls “our angel on Earth.” From the moment Hannah entered the room, a sense of calm replaced the fear. Hannah gently guided the family through their waterbirth experience.
Once born, Jolene and her partner, Adam, lovingly tucked both boys up, wrapped them in love, and returned to the ‘Little Footprints Suite’, the current Bereavement Suite at the hospital for families facing baby loss.
There, Hannah helped take hand and footprints, offered soft sleeping bags and tiny bears, and supported the family as they created treasure memories. Theo, the boys’ big brother, had earlier given two £1 coins to his parents, one for each twin. These were placed beside them with care and pride.
The family slept peacefully for the first time in days, wrapped in love and grief, but more importantly, surrounded by support and respect.
At CHFT Charity, we believe families like Jolene and Adam deserve the space, care and dignity to create precious memories, designed for love, remembrance and healing.
With your help, we can build a new bereavement suite that gives families the privacy, comfort and support they need during the most difficult moments of their lives. The new suite will offer opportunities for memory making, extended family visits, and peaceful, private moments to say goodbye with love and dignity, a space where love lives on, even in loss.
