In this episode, we speak with Dad Raj about the loss of his baby son Riaan and the long search for answers after his death at seven months old. He shares the medical issues Riaan faced, the events of the night he died, and the recent understanding that Riaan had a very rare genetic condition.

Raj shares how he started Sands United FC Nottingham to provide support for other dads who have lost a baby. Raj explains the purpose of the charity he set up with his wife Sharan in honour of their son Riaan Remembers and how the charity supports bereaved families and provides training to NHS staff to better support parents in baby loss. In Raj’s role as a trustee he recently delivered a letter to Downing Street to call for action to improve the racial inequality in baby loss.

Raj talks about the football sessions, peer support for bereaved dads and how often the dads are overlooked and we need to be more open in conversation to better support Dad’s as well as the Mums in baby loss.

In this podcast episode we speak with Lucy from Ellie’s Gift about how the service began after the loss of her baby daughter Ellie and how that experience shaped support for families facing baby loss. Lucy talks about Ellie’s birth plan and their hypnobirthing approach, which helped create a calm delivery and a precious chance to say hello and goodbye.

Lucy explains how she later trained as a hypnobirthing teacher and adapted those ideas into Ellie’s Gift, a free app used in the NHS and internationally, with resources such as audio tracks, journaling, yoga and aftercare support. We also cover the organisation’s work for families experiencing TFMR (Termination For Medical Reasons), its mindfulness and grief course, the companion book, and the importance of language, collaboration and support during pregnancy after loss.

Lucy Livesey, Ellie’s Gift, baby loss, support, birth plan, hypnobirthing, NHS app, grief, TFMR, stillbirth, miscarriage and mindfulness

In this podcast we chat with Vanessa May, a bereaved parent, author, grief and spiritualist life coach about supporting bereaved parents and her books 'Love Untethered: How to Live When Your Child Dies' and 'When Grief Takes Everything: A Survival Guide to Devastating Loss’. We discuss her son Harry, the shock of his death, and how writing became a way for Vanessa to process her grief.

We also talk about the physical effects of grief and trauma, including sleep, digestion, anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation, as well as the value of self-care, breathwork, journaling, nature, and support from other bereaved parents. Vanessa reflects on continuing bonds, spiritual beliefs, signs, and the comfort she found in research about mothers carrying cells from their children.

Finally, we discuss Vanessa’s later losses, including her husband of 30 years and her father, and how these experiences shaped her understanding of complex grief and trauma and how she wrote her third book during this time. Vanessa speaks about taking things one day at a time, finding small pleasures, and accepting that grief changes rather than ends.

Vanessa May, bereaved mother, grief coach, grief educator, grief, bereaved parents, Love Untethered, When Grief Takes Everything, trauma recovery, continuing bonds

In this special episode for National Bereaved Parents Day 2026 we speak with Gayle Routledge, founder and CEO of A Child of Mine. We hear how she set up National Bereaved Parents Day on 3 July 2020 and the purpose of this year's theme - This Is My Place.

We also hear her personal story about her son Lewis, from his neuroblastoma diagnosis and treatment to his death shortly before his third birthday.

Gayle shares how A Child of Mine began as a website and grew into a charity offering peer to peer support for bereaved families locally and online. Gayle covers the range of support the charity provides for parents, siblings, grandparents, and families affected by different types of loss.

Gayle explains the importance of the candle-lighting at 7pm on 3rd July and how they look to share parents' stories for National Bereaved Parents Day, along with this year’s butterfly installation in St Mary's Church in Stafford.

Links:

https://achildofmine.org.uk/

https://achildofmine.org.uk/category/support/

https://www.facebook.com/achildofmine

https://www.instagram.com/achildofmine/%20

In this special collaboration episode For Dads By Dads we wanted to recognise and offer support for bereaved dads of any circumstances.

We will hear from Dads who have lost a baby, a child, a young person and an adult child.

We understand that each loss is unique but the difficulties and challenges you may be navigating right now might be similar.

We hope by hearing from different Dads it brings you some connection, support, recognition and hope of the devastating loss you are going through.

We would like to say a big thank you to all the bereaved dads who have contributed to this episode: Raj, David, Ronak, Simon, David Higson, Olly and Bryan.

We have listed organisations that the dads have mentioned and other organisations providing support to Dads on our episode listing which you can find on our web site at bereavedparentsclub.org.uk.

This episode is dedicated to Riaan Sam Jakub George Martin Evie Poppy and Dottie.

Nicola shares her heartbreaking story of her daughterLaura's bravery and determination after being diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer Glioblastoma.

How Laura defied the initial terminal prognosis timeline, the families fight for treatment to keep Laura alive. Nicola shares stories of Laura's bucket list which went viral.

How Laura became a young ambassador for the Brain Tumour Charity and re-enrolled at university whilst having Chemo and completed her degree course and graduated with a 2:1.

Nicola shares the need for the narrative to change in termsof more support and recognition for sibling loss and that her other daughter Gracie now works for Sibling Support UK to help other siblings like herself.

Nicola Nuttall has become a passionate fundraiser, speaker and campaigner, fighting to raise awareness of the disease.

Her book ‘The Stars Will Still Be There’ published by Harper Collins, is an unflinchingly honest account of how the family coped with Laura’s devastating diagnosis and helped to make the most of her remaining time, reminding us all to live life to the fullest and ‘Be More Laura’ every single day.

Nicola runs The Be More Laura Foundation which funds vital research in the hope of finding kinder, more effective treatments for glioblastoma and works with organisations such as Our Brain Bank, Brain Cancer Justice and The Brain Tumour Charity to call for change in how brain tumours are treated, particularly in young adults.

Please be aware this episode will include themes of death, loss and cancer treatment.

How do you tackle wills, pensions and legacy post the death of your only child when you have little family and no future bloodline?

Tracy George's Mum shares her experience and recent difficult conversations and being four years on with still no plan?

We would be happy to hear any thoughts and what other parents and families have done?

#childloss​

We are thankful that Katja Faber Argenta has taken the time to record this very special Christmas Message.

Katja shares her experiences of navigating Christmas over the last eleven years after her son Alex was killed on 30th December 2014.

For parents more newly bereaved or parents struggling this year with the difficulties of Christmas we hope you find some comfort in Katja's words on how her family have reinvented Christmas as the years have passed and that it has felt lighter and softer in more recent years.

@katja.author.faber is a mother, writer, speaker and grief mentor. I like so many other bereaved parents took great comfort from Katja's posts over the years as her words resonated and I could identify in what she was writing.

We would like to wish Katja, her family and all our listeners a peaceful Christmas. Whatever you choose to do or not do over the coming days is enough.

Extending our love to you and your loved ones no longer physically with us ❤️.

This podcast short is dedicated to Alex ❤️

#childloss

#bereavedparent

#survivingchristmas