Sands

2023 TCS London Marathon

Leanne Watts

Leanne Watts

My Story

I will be taking on the world's famous TCS London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April 2023 for Sands in our honour of our beautiful baby girl Ava Hope Watts 10.10.22 - 15.10.22
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that we wouldn't be bringing our baby home with us and that we would in turn, join the club no parent ever wants to part of.

As soon as Ava was born at 37 weeks it was apparent she was very poorly, it was actually a miracle she was still with us at birth and so straight away we were told she would need to be transferred to another hospital for specialist treatment in a dedicated Neonatal unit for sick babies. 

No cuddles, no introductions, no studying of her beautiful face and tiny features, instead I watched her be wheeled by me on the operating table only able to glance and reach out at her tiny fingers to let her know Mummy was there.

We spent the first night in different hospitals with my only comfort being that her Daddy was with her and I made it my goal to be physically strong enough the following day to be transferred to them, which thankfully happened. 

The rest of those days passed by in a blur of shock, devastation, pain and complete disbelief at what we were being told and decisions that we were having to make for our tiny precious youngest daughter whilst also being apart from her big sister Amelia.

Every time I saw Ava, I had the overwhelming maternal urge to grab her perfect little body with the softest skin and hold her so close, to keep her safe but the machines keeping her alive prevented me from doing so and it wasn't until she was 4 days old and we inevitably knew the devastating outcome ahead that I was able to hold her for the first time.

We spent the next 24 hours reading her books, telling her stories, playing songs and having her meet her big sister, which was so very special to us.

When the time came, Ava passed peacefully in my arms just before 8pm on the Saturday evening during Baby Loss Awareness Week Wave of light. Mike & I took great comfort in our friends & family lighting candles for Ava at this time, alongside the rest of the baby loss community and essentially being her guiding lights to a better place. 

The last thing I asked of Ava was to make sure she sent Mummy signs to let me know she was watching over us because I simply couldn't comprehend life without her.  I got the call from SANDS about my marathon spot on 31.10.22 - Ava's due date, which was one of the toughest days in my "after" Ava life. 

As parents, Mike & I have had to have the most horrific conversations and had to make unimaginable decisions that I really wish no other parent had to do but unfortunately the statistics speak for themselves - 1 in 4 pregnancies will end in miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. You think it will never happen to you or anyone you know, unfortunately I'm living proof it does & it's excruciatingly painful on a daily basis. 


I am not a runner, this is a huge challenge for me especially in these circumstances but I aim to raise as many funds needed to help us prevent more babies from dying and meet the growing need for our maternity support services, all in Ava's honour. 

She is the ultimate motivation, my warrior princess. 

Thank you all for your support 

Sands

Raising for:

Sands
181%

Funded

  • Target
    £10K
  • Raised so far
    £18.1K
  • Number of donors
    344

My Story

I will be taking on the world's famous TCS London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April 2023 for Sands in our honour of our beautiful baby girl Ava Hope Watts 10.10.22 - 15.10.22
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that we wouldn't be bringing our baby home with us and that we would in turn, join the club no parent ever wants to part of.

As soon as Ava was born at 37 weeks it was apparent she was very poorly, it was actually a miracle she was still with us at birth and so straight away we were told she would need to be transferred to another hospital for specialist treatment in a dedicated Neonatal unit for sick babies. 

No cuddles, no introductions, no studying of her beautiful face and tiny features, instead I watched her be wheeled by me on the operating table only able to glance and reach out at her tiny fingers to let her know Mummy was there.

We spent the first night in different hospitals with my only comfort being that her Daddy was with her and I made it my goal to be physically strong enough the following day to be transferred to them, which thankfully happened. 

The rest of those days passed by in a blur of shock, devastation, pain and complete disbelief at what we were being told and decisions that we were having to make for our tiny precious youngest daughter whilst also being apart from her big sister Amelia.

Every time I saw Ava, I had the overwhelming maternal urge to grab her perfect little body with the softest skin and hold her so close, to keep her safe but the machines keeping her alive prevented me from doing so and it wasn't until she was 4 days old and we inevitably knew the devastating outcome ahead that I was able to hold her for the first time.

We spent the next 24 hours reading her books, telling her stories, playing songs and having her meet her big sister, which was so very special to us.

When the time came, Ava passed peacefully in my arms just before 8pm on the Saturday evening during Baby Loss Awareness Week Wave of light. Mike & I took great comfort in our friends & family lighting candles for Ava at this time, alongside the rest of the baby loss community and essentially being her guiding lights to a better place. 

The last thing I asked of Ava was to make sure she sent Mummy signs to let me know she was watching over us because I simply couldn't comprehend life without her.  I got the call from SANDS about my marathon spot on 31.10.22 - Ava's due date, which was one of the toughest days in my "after" Ava life. 

As parents, Mike & I have had to have the most horrific conversations and had to make unimaginable decisions that I really wish no other parent had to do but unfortunately the statistics speak for themselves - 1 in 4 pregnancies will end in miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. You think it will never happen to you or anyone you know, unfortunately I'm living proof it does & it's excruciatingly painful on a daily basis. 


I am not a runner, this is a huge challenge for me especially in these circumstances but I aim to raise as many funds needed to help us prevent more babies from dying and meet the growing need for our maternity support services, all in Ava's honour. 

She is the ultimate motivation, my warrior princess. 

Thank you all for your support 

Leanne Watts is fundraising towards