A couple whose baby boy died after he was born at just 23 weeks old has paid tribute to their son ahead of a major fundraising event.
At the end of 2021, Lisa Bearman, of Bowthorpe, Norwich, unexpectantly went into pre-term labour.
She had only been pregnant for coming up to six months but her son, Henry, was born just three days later.
The 38-year-old, who works for an insurance company, said: “Amazingly, he was doing well in the neonatal intensive care unit and there weren’t any major health problems, considering he was so small.
“However, suddenly, on day eight, he went dramatically downhill.
“He had to resuscitated, but they couldn’t get him back and he died in my arms.
“It was the worst time of our lives and we didn’t know which way was up.”
Father Chris Bearman, 38, and his wife also had to break the news to Henry’s older brother, Freddie, who had not been allowed to see his sibling before he died due to Covid restrictions.
Mrs Bearman added: “We used to sit by Henry's incubator and talk to him. We’d tell him about his big brother and what we’d do together when he left hospital.
“We had to sit Freddie down on a bench outside the hospital and tell him his brother had died.
“We asked if he would like to see him, and he said yes.
“Freddie gave him a hug and sang a lullaby before saying goodbye.”
The couple had also telephoned their parents, Henry’s grandparents, to tell them of his passing and they came to the hospital to hold him and say their hellos and goodbyes.
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After Henry died, the couple were recommended East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice (Each), which encouraged them to take part in memory-making exercises including making hand and foot casts, as well as counselling.
“We felt numb at the time and were so grateful to Each,” Mrs Bearman said.
“We’ll always treasure those casts of his little hands and feet.
“I honestly don’t how I would have coped without Each.
“I have counselling to talk through everything and advice for how to help Freddie.
“Each is fantastic and we always say how amazing everyone is and how much they’ve helped since we lost Henry.
“As a family, we only had a very short time with him.
“We did the Each Bubble Rush last year as a way to remember him.
“We thought it would be a fun way to honour our son and give something back, so more families have help if they’re unlucky enough to find themselves in the same situation.”
Unfortunately, Mr Bearman, who works in IT, was ill last year so his wife took part with Freddie and her father-in-law Paul, 64.
This year the couple will be joined by Freddie and Paul, as well as Chris’s sister, Sarah, 34, and their eight-year-old niece, Evie, and Mrs Bearman’s mum, Jane, 64.
She added: “The three of us had lots of fun last year and wanted to do it again with other family members, all keen to race in Henry’s memory.”
The family are raising funds and awareness as a way of showing their gratitude for the care and support they received from Each.
Each’s foam-filled Norwich Bubble Rush is taking place at the Norfolk Showground on July 16.
Each bubble station has a cannon which pumps out coloured foam to create a four-foot deep bubble bath.
The course features four bubble stations along a 2.5km route and participants can do one lap or two by completing the circuit twice.
- To sponsor the Bearman family visit http://bit.ly/3ms5JCU
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