Couple vow to raise funds for recurrent miscarriage clinic in Coventry that helped them to become parents
A couple who experienced four heartbreaking miscarriages in two years are raising money for a recurrent miscarriage clinic at University Hospital in Coventry which helped them to finally become parents to a baby boy.
Kayleigh and Matt Burton are running the North Lincolnshire Half Marathon on 3rd May to raise funds for the Biomedical Research Unit in Reproductive Health at University Hospital in Coventry.
Kayleigh and Matt contacted the research unit’s Director Siobhan Quenby, joint Professor of Obstetrics at the University of Warwick and University Hospital, after losing four babies between April 2011 and April 2013.
They travelled from their home in Kippax, Leeds, to Coventry for treatment and in April 2014 they were delighted to welcome their little boy, Blake Quin Burton into the world.
Kayleigh said: “Blake was the answer to all our prayers and the fulfilment of all our dreams. Weighing a not insubstantial 8lb, 14oz, he filled a hole in our hearts. Miscarriage is so common and yet is rarely talked about. Unlike other forms of grief, people seem reluctant to mention it, whether that’s through fear of causing upset or worries about saying the wrong thing.”
The couple have decided to share their story to keep the memories of their babies alive and to give hope to other couples going through the same thing.
Kayleigh said: “I would love to break this taboo, which exists even in the medical profession. I remember attending the GPs to get a sick note following our first loss and the doctor informing me that she had put ‘gynecological problems’ on the note, rather than the real reason. This made me so mad, I had lost my baby, not a problem. Maybe by sharing our story, we might help other people reach out for much-needed support.”
People can sponsor Kayleigh and Matt at https://www.justgiving.com/teams/KayleighandMatt and they can also find out more about their journey at https://chasingourhappilyeverafter.wordpress.com/
To speak to Kayleigh and Matt Burton or Professor Siobhan Quenby, please contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Senior Press and Communications Manager, University of Warwick, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk, 02476 150868, 07824 540863.
Kayleigh and Matt's Justgiving page
Read Kayleigh's blog, Chasing Our Happily Ever After
PR62, 26th March 2015