Couple’s charity aims to support bereaved parents with comfort boxes

A couple who set up a charity to support families experiencing pregnancy after baby loss wants to supply comfort boxes to every hospital in England.

Amneet and Dan Graham, from Gillingham in Kent, set up Willow’s Rainbow Box in 2017 after the birth of their daughter Willow, following a miscarriage the previous year.

The charity provides comfort boxes for women and families who have experienced loss through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death – when a baby dies within the first 28 days of life.

The boxes contain items such as a journal for thoughts, positive affirmations to support wellbeing, cards for healthcare staff to recognise added stress, as well as a crochet pack and links to tutorials.

Ms Graham described her miscarriage as “horrific” and her “worst nightmare”, which left her feeling anxious during her next pregnancy.

“It was just horrific,” she said.

“It was my worst nightmare and I just remember being there and one of the nurses said that I could ‘just try again’ like it was nothing.”

When she became pregnant again she said: “I felt so anxious but didn’t know where to turn. There were groups for baby loss but as I was pregnant, it felt a bit insensitive to go.”

So far, more than 500 boxes have been delivered across England.

“At the moment we deliver England wide but we want to be able to break down barriers so people don’t have to come to us and can get a box from their hospital if they want to,” Ms Graham said.

On 15 September, Dan delivered a box from Medway Maritime Hospital to Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle using only buses, in a journey lasting 17 hours.

“I did my very best to replicate that long and winding road of pregnancy after loss,” he said.

“It was difficult and a tough journey and I hope that I have done people proud.”