George shares how in September 2025, at 22 weeks, his daughter Heidi was lost due to preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). It was he and his wife Hannah's second loss as they also experienced a miscarriage in 2024. Following their losses, the couple attend monthly Sands support meetings in York and have recently completed 'Heidi's Walk', a fundraising walk which raised over £5,000 for Sands.

We lost our daughter, Heidi, at 22 weeks of pregnancy due to preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) in September 2025. Up until that point, the pregnancy had been progressing normally, so everything changed very suddenly and left us completely heartbroken.

Heidi was our second loss, as we had also experienced a miscarriage in 2024. 

Going through loss again made the experience even more difficult, as we were already carrying the grief and anxiety from before.

Since losing Heidi, we have been trying to find ways to remember and honour her as part of our family. Raising funds for Sands has been an important way for us to keep her memory alive and to support other families who are going through similar experiences.

In March 2026, we decided to fundraise by doing ‘Heidi’s Walk’, a 47km route, starting from Headingly Cricket Club, bouncing a cricket ball the whole way. Our friends and family got involved, showing their support through donations and joining the walk themselves, and we raised over £5,000 for Sands. 

We also attend the Sands support meetings in York on the first Wednesday of each month. These have been a real source of support for us during our grief. Being able to speak with volunteers and other couples who have also experienced baby loss has made a big difference. Sharing our experiences in a safe, understanding space has helped us feel less alone, and has been an important part of our healing process.