It is a heartbreak very familiar to us. Our much loved son Jack was stillborn at 38 weeks and 6 days on the 5th of October 2021. It was sudden and unexpected. We miss him every minute of every day and his physical absence will be forever felt.

In many ways, leaving the hospital was just the start of a difficult road. What we needed then was guidance on what to expect when going home without our much loved baby, beyond the generic pamphlets. We felt lost, overwhelmed, and profoundly lonely. The heartbreak was overwhelming. 

At first, we didn’t want any reminders that Jack wasn’t here with us. We didn’t want anything to make this nightmare feel more real. What we needed was to hear from other bereaved parents about how they survived, to find picture books to help us talk about Jack with his loving big sister Lydia, and ways to include him in our home - to keep him close in whatever way we could.

Slowly, we discovered those resources and keepsakes and gathered them into what you’re now holding. A little help to save you the endless scrolling and searching so you can connect quickly with support and find resources when you need them. You may want to share it with friends and family so they can better support you too.

We continue to rely on many of these resources and keepsakes now, such as helping us acknowledge and celebrate Jack’s birthday with his big sister Lydia and little sister Adeline. Jack firmly holds a special and cherished place in our family, and these moments remain important to honour his memory and keep him close in our hearts.  

You might not be ready to look at this now and that’s completely okay. It will be here when you are. Some of it may resonate with you, some may not. We hope you find what feels right for you.

Every experience is uniquely your own but we hope this companion brings comfort, connection and support, now and into the future. Above all, we want you to know you are not alone.

Sending all our love to you and your beautiful baby.

Emily & Nick

We invite you to follow @alittlehelpfromjack on Instagram to find the most up to date information and resources, and connect with relevant social media accounts.