A Lanarkshire woman who tragically lost her baby 20 weeks into pregnancy is holding a charity rave for local cause Baby Loss Retreat.
Heather Denham was due to have a baby girl named Jorgia last year but doctors were unable to find a heartbeat during a routine scan.
The loss devastated the 30-year-old from East Kilbride and her family, but she still had to face the heartbreak of giving birth to her stillborn child two days later
Less than a year later, Heather experienced another miscarriage while still coping with the grief of losing Jorgia just months before.
But she describes the support she received from the charity during her time of need as "phenomenal" and now wants to give something back in memory of her late infant.
Next month, Heather, who now works for Baby Loss Retreat, will host a charity rave event in Digital Nightclub in Hamilton and is urging as many people as possible to show their support, with all ticket sales going straight to the charity.
Heather admits losing Jorgia last April was the worst experience of her life.
She told Lanarkshire Live : "I went for my routine 20-week scan they found there was no heartbeat so unfortunately I had to give birth to my baby girl two days later. She was born on April 16, 2021.
"I've had three miscarriages, one before Jorgia, and one after, but because I gave birth to her it was totally different. And it was hard to move on because there was no reason as to why she died.
"I just shut down, I remember lying on the bed and assuming everything was going to be alright. I knew something was wrong and then they told me they couldn't find a heartbeat.
"I actually took my sister with me that time and it was her that started to cry before me. It was very surreal, like a totally out-of-body experience.
"It wasn't until after when I realised I had to give birth to her that I got really upset about it. And the worst part of that was phoning my husband to tell him his daughter had died.
"It was difficult. Jorgia was progressing well and then suddenly it was all snatched away from me, it was a nightmare."
Heather and husband Gary held a funeral for their baby daughter and they attended her grave in April with birthday balloons and flowers.
Speaking of giving birth to Jorgia, Heather added: "I didn't know that had to happen. Babies over 12 weeks you still have to go into hospital to give birth to them after they've passed away in the womb. It's an absolutely awful experience.
"You go into the labour ward where women are giving birth to healthy babies. I was in a room next door to a woman who had given birth to a baby boy and we could hear them shouting 'it's a boy', and meanwhile we're sitting in silence in this room cradling a baby girl that will never cry.
"It's been the worst experience of my life having to go into a labour to give birth to a dead baby, it shouldn't be allowed."
"I had another miscarriage in January and that nearly killed me", Heather added. "I lost a lot of blood and had to be rushed into hospital by ambulance."
Baby Loss Retreat stepped in to help Heather during her grief and provided a lifeline for her and her family.
The charity provided 14 sessions for Heather in total and provided a retreat for her, Gary, and their eight-year-old son Jack for two days in Castle Douglas, which proved vital in coping with their loss.
Speaking of her upcoming fundraiser Heather said: "This is my way to give back to the charity by holding this event and hopefully raising as much money as possible.
"Baby Loss Retreat just happened to be there at exactly the right moment. And they've been on the ball ever since."
"It was just lovely to go away and reflect on what had happened and bring our family back together", Heather explained.
"The charity does absolutely phenomenal things for families."
The charity made such an impact on Heather's life that she decided to volunteer for them, and now she works full time as the charity's co-ordinator.
Heather continued: "I've seen first hand what it's like, benefited from the charity thereafter, and now I know how we can give back to families and get them through their loss too."
Baby Loss Retreat was founded in Lanarkshire by a Coatbridge couple and now has premises in Bellshill, Airdrie and Glasgow, helping families nationwide.
The fundraiser event takes place on Saturday, August 27 at Digital Nightclub in Hamilton. Tickets cost £20 and all proceeds go straight to Baby Loss Retreat.
The night will be full of classic dance tunes put on by Glasgow group Zander Nation and is for over 18s only.
You can find out more about the event and buy tickets here.
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