Sharon Hurst qualified as a midwife in 2007 and had an interest in bereavement care from the early days of her career. After having looked after many bereaved families over the years in her clinical role, she became the first full-time Specialist Bereavement Midwife at Darent Valley Hospital in May 2021.
She was nominated for the Elaine Thorp Award for Bereavement care by two bereaved parents.
Lucy was cared for by Sharon after she had her still born son. Soon after, she got pregnant again which she describes as “an extremely worrying time”.
In her nomination, she explains: “I was scared in what was going to happen then after the birth but Sharon was with me the whole way. I got pregnant rather quickly after and it was as you can imagine an extremely worrying time. Sharon again was with me every step of the way and came into the operating room when I had my c-section with my rainbow baby.
"Sharon is like my guardian angel. She used to ring me every week, answering my worries and reassuring me. She was just amazing. She even came to my post-mortem results meeting and asked all the questions for me. I can’t thank her enough, I actually love her, she made me feel so at ease. Forever grateful for her.”
Rachel was also cared for and comforted by Sharon. After having a miscarriage, Sharon was there for her throughout her subsequent pregnancy, in regular contact and supporting her to have regular scans when she was feeling anxious.
She said: “When I received the horrible and devastating news that my son Jack had passed away while I was pregnant with him, she was the first person I told. She was there through the whole process and birth. She treated us like we were just having a normal baby and not a still born, always calling our baby by his name.
Sharon was in close contact with the family and supported them to make memories with their son.
“Without Sharon I wouldn’t have the special memories I have of my son which are extremely important to me. I couldn’t have done all of this without Sharon, she has been more than a midwife, she has honestly been a comfort and a friend. I will always be forever grateful for everything Sharon done for us and whenever Jack is mentioned I always say how amazing Sharon was.”
Sharon, who feels privileged to be a bereavement midwife, said: “The whole reason we do our job is so we can make a little bit of a difference to someone or a family that’s been bereaved, whether it be during the saddest times or with their rainbow babies. To know that we are making a difference is amazing. I feel really privileged to do the job that I do. It makes it all the more special for the nominations to come from these families. To think that they’ve been through what they have, and they’ve still found the time to nominate me for an award. It never ceases to amaze me, the strength I see in the women and families I look after.
“Elaine Thorp was a trailblazer and laid the foundations for the work we’re doing now. It’s a real privilege to have my name associated with hers.”
Find out more about the Elaine Thorp Award for Bereavement Care.