WATCH: Mum of baby who tragically died in his sleep urges Highland residents to unite during Baby Loss Awareness Week
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A mother grieving an unimaginable loss is determined to shine some light for her 'angel above' after an unexpected tragedy robbed her family of a brother and son.
Mum Daisy McKenzie and husband Eoin were delighted to welcome their newborn son, Albie, into the world on April 13 last year.
From the moment Albie was born, he became the family's pride and joy as he managed to light up every room he went into.
Inverness-based Daisy described Albie as a 'happy little boy' that enjoyed spending time with his brother's and making everyone laugh.
She said: "The first thing he learnt how to do was clap, so he used to clap for all of us with so much energy and was so full of life."
A fortnight after Albie's first birthday, the unthinkable turned the McKenzie's world upside down.
Daisy said: "On Thursday, April 27, we picked Albie up from nursery where he was cutely waving at us from the play-dough table. When we took him home he was quite tired from being at nursery all day, so I took him up to my bed at around 6.30pm.
"His dad was tickling him on his nose and tummy which just made wee Albie laugh so much. He was so happy when he fell asleep and then the next thing I knew it was the morning and I just remember waking up to feeling Albie cold."
She continued: "I quickly woke up to realise what was going on and called the ambulance. The rest is a blur."
A few weeks after Albie's death, the family were told that their little boy had sadly died from sudden unexpected infant death (SUID).
She said: "When we lost Albie it was like nothing I've ever experienced before, it was a whole mixture of feelings because I thought it would just be pure sadness as when someone dies you feel sad, so I was surprised to feel so many other emotions.
"I was confused about what had happened and puzzled why Albie wasn't coming back; it just made me question everything.
"A hole has been left, that hasn't been filled and I don't think it ever will be filled because Albie is gone."
After going through the traumatic ordeal of losing her youngest son, Daisy said she now feels 'lost' after losing their boy and life as they knew it.
Since losing Albie, the family have become determined not to let themselves be paralysed by grief and, in an act of astonishing generosity aimed at helping others like them, have embarked on a major awareness drive on behalf of the charity that is now supporting them through the worst time imaginable.
Held In Our Hearts is a baby loss support charity that was officially launched in Inverness this year, offering counselling and peer support.
In the approach of Baby Loss Awareness Week, October 9-10, Daisy is keen help support other grieving mothers by sharing her story and creating a strong community that allows Albie's legacy to be remembered.
She said: "I think Baby Loss Awareness Week is important because whilst we have lost our baby's, we are still mums and as mums you are so proud of your baby's, so this week allows us to remember them."
As a grieving mother, Daisy is eager to create a community for mums that may be suffering in silence and wants to re-assure others that any emotions they feel during the grieving process are perfectly normal.
She said: "I have been quite harsh on myself, wondering why I feel a certain way, and questioning why I'm not crying all the time, whereas from what I have learnt from the counselling, and by talking to people, I have realised that grief comes in many different forms."
To honor this special week, Held In Our Hearts are encouraging local businesses in and around Inverness to their support by adding a pound to a restaurant bill during the week or by creating a 'product of the week' where a proportion of the sale is donated to the charity.
And mums across Inverness, such as Daisy, will be bravely sharing their stories in the aim of giving strength to those in need, as well as spreading awareness.
