A bereaved grandad has spoken of the heart-wrenching pain he suffered following the death of his ten-day-old granddaughter.
Little Violet-May had a serious heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, as well as pulmonary valve dysplasia and mild pulmonary valve regurgitation, and received end-of-life care at the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) base near Norwich. She died in October 2021.
Grandad Ziggy Nash has reflected on the harrowing time and was speaking during Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW), which runs until Sunday (9th to 15th October).
It is a chance for families all over the world to commemorate the lives of their babies and share memories of the brief time they had together.
“As a grandparent, it was a real double-whammy,” said Ziggy, who celebrated his 38th birthday last Friday.
“I lost my gorgeous, special and precious granddaughter, who brought love beyond words and will have a special place in my heart. However, I also had to stand by and watch my daughter, Baylee, suffer. It broke my heart.
“Everyone grieves in their own way and there’s no right or wrong way to cope. However, Baylee has done amazingly and I’m very proud of her.
“She’s only young herself and no-one should have to go through such a daunting, life-changing experience.”
Baylee and partner Tom Pipe were able to create special memories during their time at The Nook, including going into the sensory room, taking their baby for a walk around the grounds and giving her a bath. They are still receiving support and feel they would have struggled to cope without EACH.
“I’ll always hold onto the special moments I shared with Violet-May,” added Ziggy, who lives in Norwich.
“I’m beyond proud of what such a tiny baby went through, and the way she fought, in such a short period of time. I’ll forever treasure the bond we have.”
In his quest to raise funds for EACH, Ziggy took part in The Boss Hog challenge on Sunday. The fundraiser, an event featuring more than 40 obstacles over a sapping seven-mile course, took place at Wantisden Hall, in Wantisden Valley, Woodbridge.
He rallied a team of 12, including friends and colleagues from Anglian Water and the IMRWR Alliance, and they called themselves Violet-May’s Water Boys.
“We had a brilliant, fun day and it felt great doing something so worthwhile, supporting a cause so close to our heart,” said Ziggy, who raised more than £1,000.
To show your support and sponsor Ziggy, head here. Ziggy and other family members took part in The Piglet Junior Hog fundraiser in July 2022, raising nearly £2,000.
