A SALTCOATS couple left heartbroken after their baby daughter, Milla Zen, was stillborn, are rallying together with family members to raise as much money as possible for neo-natal charity.

Jamie-Lee Poppe and her partner Connor Douglas were rocked last month when their first child was stillborn, but their experience has led them and other family members to get on their bikes, pull on running trainers and climb mountains, all to raise money for the Ayrshire Stillbirth and neonatal charity (Sands).

Brave Jamie-Lee, who is just 22, spoke about their experience and how she was helped by family, nurses, midwives and friends following their news.

She told the Herald: “At 36 weeks and three days we found out that Milla never had a heartbeat so they gave us a family room in the hospital, which we didn’t know existed. You had the option to go home or go to the family room. I didn’t want to come home so we stayed there for four days and had Milla on the Monday and we managed to have the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with her in that family room. You get a cuddle cot so we could cuddle her and get to be with her which was really nice.

“There’s only one family room in Crosshouse Maternity Unit and when I was in I asked where would someone else go, they just said they would have to find a place for them so my goal is for there to be another family room. It’s like a wee studio apartment and because it happens to one in four women, and I didn’t know that at all, my goal is to raise as much as we can and maybe that can help to get another family room somewhere. We put a target of £1,000 and we are already at £1,600.

“When we found out we were at my cousin’s wedding and I started feeling a bit unwell and stressed out so we went home and did everything you’re supposed to like drinking cold water and laying on your left side. Throughout my whole pregnancy I was paranoid so Connor was used to it. So we went to the hospital and found out the news. It completely broke our hearts, but everyone was so supportive because all my family were at the wedding so we phoned Connor’s dad, who has been amazing. Connor lost his mum in September to Cancer so he was there and he came up straight away.

"A few hours later I phoned my mum who came up to the hospital straight away and she was great and all my aunties and uncles as well.

“My friend Gillian, who I’ve known since I was a kid, I found it had happened to her 10 years ago and now we’ve bonded further. and you walk past so many people and you would have never have thought and It has brought so many other people into my life. You can talk about your baby and although some people feel awkward about it the family has been great and supportive.

“For Milla’s funeral everyone was dressed up and the theme was purple because I did hypnobirthing because I don’t take any pain relief or anything and you have a birthing colour and Milla’s was purple. It was a beautiful day.

“The staff at Crosshouse are amazing. I could not fault any of them. They were calling and texting me and popping in on their days off and seeing us. They were all amazing. They would help you and even just make a cup of tea.

“We want to go on and have brothers and sisters for Milla and we’ve got our own wee personal angel now which is amazing and I would go through it all again just to hold her again.”

Raising over £1,500 already has seen lots of family and friends get involved and now there is a number of events running right through to October.

A group of people, including Jamie-Lee’s mum Maureen and her sister Sonya, tackled Arran’s highest peak, Goatfell, for Sands. Next up is Jamie-Lee’s auntie and uncle running the Great Wall of China on May 21.

Jamie-Lee said: “My auntie and uncle were already running the Great Wall of China and they suggested that they would do it for a charity, and they suggested doing it in Milla Zen’s name. They are crazy into their running and they keep quite active and they are doing really well with their training.

"We came from that idea to doing Goatfell and then a cycle in July, the woman’s 10k in June and we just thought we could do so many more challenges and see how much money we can raise."

“We want to go on and have brothers and sisters for Milla and we’ve got our own wee personal

angel now which is amazing and I would go through it all again just to hold her again.

Jamie-Lee’s friend Gillian added: “I think it does bring you closer as a couple because you realise there is nothing worse that you can ever go through together and it can only be great from now on. "

Jamie-Lee added: “Connor is so supportive and brilliant. I can phone him anytime night or day because he works away during the week and he will just listen to me and he speaks to me and it is nice to have that person to be with and it’s brilliant.

If you would like to get involved with the fundraising you can contact the Herald on editorial@ardrossanherald.co.uk and we will pass on your details to the family.

Alternatively, if you would like to donate you can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/sonya-Hughes.