A BALSALL Common couple who founded a charity to support parents and families who have lost babies have been named in the New Year’s Honours List.
Amy and Ryan Jackson have been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to bereaved parents.
The pair set up the Lily Mae Foundation in memory of their daughter, Lily Mae, was born sleeping in 2010 at Solihull Hospital, with the aim of offering more support that they received in their hour of need.
Amy and Ryan said: “We are truly shocked and overwhelmingly grateful for this honour.
“Reflecting on the journey that led us here, it all began with the devastating loss of our beautiful daughter, Lily Mae, who was stillborn in February 2010. In 2012, we established The Lily Mae Foundation in her memory, and since then, it has become a source of vital hope and support for thousands of families navigating the devastating loss of a baby.
“This is not just an honour for us; it is an honour for Lily Mae. When we first held our stillborn daughter, our world shattered. The grief was indescribable and in that darkest moment, we knew we had to find a way to make sure other parents didn’t feel so utterly alone.”
Over the years the duo have raised thousands to provide One to One Baby Loss Support Service and baby boxes as well as a number of other projects aimed to help those who have lost a baby to stillbirth, neonatal death, miscarriage or medical termination.
It also creates memory boxes which allow parents to collect memories and precious items and store them.
They include vouchers for jewellery engraving, candles, clay print kit, ink print kit, photo frames, books, and two teddy bears.
These are handed out to hospitals including Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and Warwick Hospital.
Amy and Ryan added: “Receiving the British Empire Medal (BEM) is a moment of deeply humbling pride but the true recognition belongs to every single person who has supported our work, our staff, every volunteer who gives their time and crucially every bereaved family who has trusted us to walk alongside them. This medal is a testament to the strength of a community bound by love, loss and the fierce determination to keep our babies’ memories alive.
“Our work is driven entirely by love and the memory of all the families we support. We dedicate this BEM to all the babies gone too soon, especially our beautiful Lily Mae. Their lives, however short, matter eternally. We started this Foundation with broken hearts, but it is their memory that fuels us to provide Memory Boxes and vital bereavement support programmes to families in their hour of need.
“To our staff, the volunteers, the trustees, the corporate partners and every individual donor; thank you! Your compassion and generosity have built and shaped The Lily Mae Foundation into what it is today.
“You have turned our pain into purpose and you have ensured that the legacy of love continues to grow. We accept this honour on behalf of every single one of you.
“This honour cements our commitment and dedication to ensuring that essential support is available to all families that need us.
“We will continue to fight for better care, better resources and a more compassionate world for bereaved parents. Thank you, from the depths of our hearts, for seeing our work and for helping us keep Lily Mae’s legacy shining bright.”
