How Forget Me Not helped a Bradford mum through loss

Talia Horner, from Queensbury, found out at 20 weeks pregnant that her son Reggie had oesophageal atresia - a condition where a baby’s oesophagus does not develop properly.

Reggie was born at 34 weeks and was kept in the hospital to see if his oesophagus would grow.

Talia, 35, explained that it didn't, but after having a procedure to put a hole in his neck, Reggie was able to go home.

He had to undergo lots of operations, but in January 2020, tragedy struck. 

Talia said: “At five months old on January 25, I put him to bed and I woke up in the morning and he wasn’t breathing. He'd fallen asleep and didn’t wake up.”

She added: "Fortunately, Forget Me Not were on hand to support me. Just having them at the end of the phone over the next few months made me feel better. They made my worst nightmare a bit more bearable.

Reggie in his Santa outfit during his only Christmas (Image: UGC)

“He was a happy-go-lucky little boy, bless him, to say how many operations and things he had done.”

After Reggie died, Talia relied heavily on Forget Me Not and the services they provided.

As the fourth anniversary of Reggie's death nears, Talia continues to deal with the loss of her son. Things are more difficult at Christmas. 

“I pine for him more," said Talia. 

"He should be here. Christmas is about children and having that happy time with your children and he only got to have one.

“They never forget him when we’re here, he’s always here.”

Talia said the support she received from the hospice was second to none, especially when she found out she was having another baby.

Talia holding her son Reggie (Image: UGC)

“It was hard, really, really hard to accept the fact that I was pregnant with another baby, but Reggie wasn’t here," she said. 

The charity helped Talia come to terms with what was happening and allowed her to feel all the emotions she was facing. 

She said: “They supported me with everything. When I was pregnant with Albie, my head was all over the place.

“I felt like I was replacing Reggie. Forget Me Not invited me to a support group for parents who were pregnant and had lost a baby. And they helped me think of my pregnancy as a blessing, that Reggie had sent me his little brother to keep me safe.

Talia in the Forget Me Not video appeal (Image: UGC)

“The team there is like family. They do so much for us and they help keep Reggie’s spirit alive.

"Especially at this time of year. Christmas is so hard anyway, but without Forget Me Not it would be even more difficult. I don’t know where I’d be without them.”

Forget Me Not has launched its Christmas appeal, urging people to donate and help make a difference to the lives of families who have lost children. Donations to the appeal can be made at https://www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk/christmas-appeal

Talia added: “It’s the hardest thing I’m ever going to have to deal with - waking up every day without Reggie in my life. But Forget Me Not gave me hope. Hope that I could live without him.

"Hope that I could be a mum again to Albie.”

Gareth Pierce, CEO at Forget Me Not, said: “Christmas is a particularly difficult time for families facing or living with the loss of their child.

"We’re here so that no family has to go through that alone. But we can’t do that without your support.

"With only 10 per cent of the funds we need coming from the NHS or government, even small donations can make a big difference to families like Talia’s.”

Forget Me Not’s Christmas Appeal is getting a boost on Giving Tuesday - November 28 - when estate agents Hunters will match any donation made on that day (up to £500).

Ashraf Esat, director at Hunters in Dewsbury, said: “We know every penny counts, especially at this time of year so we wanted to help people’s donations go that little bit further.

"Talia’s story shows just how much difference Forget Me Not can make to families who are experiencing such pain and loss. By matching the donations people make on Giving Tuesday, we can double that difference.”