Up Close: Business owner Tracy Fishburn partners with CHUMS bereavement charity to help families navigate the dreadful grief of losing a baby

Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups across Hitchin and North Herts.

We showcase some of these businesses, organisations and interesting individuals from our area displaying creativity and innovation in our regular feature called 'Up Close'.

This week, as we come to the end of October, marking the month of Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness, Nub News is publishing a moving article recognising the grief of bereaved parents, and showing support to families who have suffered the loss of a baby.

Tracy Fishburn, Owner of Tracy's Treasured Keepsakes knows from her own personal experience just how devastating the loss of a baby can be.

Tracy has partnered with CHUMS charity in a bid to help raise vital funds for mental health and emotional well-being services in and around Bedfordshire, one of which is Baby Loss bereavement Service.

Read on for our latest Up Close feature.

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Up Close: Business owner Tracy Fishburn partners with CHUMS bereavement charity to help families navigate the dreadful grief of losing a baby

Over the last couple of years Tracy Fishburn has wanted to work with a charity to help support and raise awareness of the work they do.

So when Tracy discovered CHUMS Charity and learnt of the services they provide it seemed to be a perfect fit with her and her small business.

After suffering three early miscarriages during 2016 and 2017, Tracy has always openly spoken about her heartbreaking story in the hope to let others know they are not alone and encourage those affected by baby loss to seek the help they need.

Miscarriages is a taboo subject and rarely discussed openly.

Society has led us to believe that you shouldn't share the news of your pregnancy until after the first ultrasound.

This is because sadly 1 in 5 pregnancies ends in miscarriages with 1 in 100 women experiencing recurrent miscarriage (three or more in a row) usually occurring in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Before learning about their first miscarriage Tracy and her husband were excited to learn they were expecting their second child, sharing the news with their family, and planning for the future.

It wasn't until they went to their 12-week scan that they heard the words "I'm sorry there is no heartbeat".

As Tracy says "It felt like our whole world had come crashing down".

To continue to show her support Tracy has partnered with CHUMS Charity as her chosen charity to fundraise for through her business.

CHUMS' mission is to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people, in particular one of the services the charity offers is a Baby loss Bereavement Support service.

A service that supports grieving families after the death of a baby through late miscarriage, compassionate termination , stillbirth or Neonatal.

India Marshall-Roads from CHUMS says: "We are incredibly grateful for the partnership with Tracy's Treasured Keepsakes.

"Their generous support means that every purchase of a keepsake elephant from not only brings joy and comfort to the recipient, but also directly contributes to our mission of providing essential support to those navigating the heartbreaking journey of baby loss.

"Together, we are breaking the silence around baby loss and fostering a culture of empathy, understanding and healing."

Tracy Fishburn, Owner of Tracy's Treasured Keepsakes knows from her own personal experience just how devastating the loss of a baby can be. CREDIT: Tigz Rice

Tracy already uses her own heart-breaking experience to provide the best possible service when creating a special keepsake and providing comfort after the loss of their child. Whether it be through miscarriage or baby loss.

As Tracy explains: "This is why CHUMS is such a perfect fit for my business ethos and I'm so excited to be working with them this year".

Tracy's Treasured Keepsakes creates Keepsake Bears, Cushions and Blankets from those items of clothing that hold sentimental value to you.

Whether it be those outgrown baby clothes, school, or work uniform. Tracy's expertise is in creating memorial keepsakes for grieving families.

Tracy has worked with a number of families over the years who have experienced the loss of a Baby.

Julie Owen from Stevenage, came across Tracy's work back in 2021 and asked her to create a keepsake bear made from the clothes that belonged to her daughter who passed away over 20 years ago.

Hannah was born prematurely at 26 weeks due to pre-eclampsia but sadly passed away at just 16 weeks old.. Julie had kept hold of her clothes for all these years and felt ready to finally have something made from them.

Julie had her bear weighted to Hannah's weight when she passed away so she could remember holding her in her arms again.

Julies says "I didn't want to put her down, the bear is the most precious thing I have. Hannah Bear resides on my bed with her blanket round her. I just wish I had done it sooner."

Tracy will be working hard to raise as much money as possible for CHUMS charity through her work.

For every Elephant Keepsake ordered 10% will be donated to the charity.

With so many reasons to have an Elephant keepsake made, having those old baby clothes made into a keepsake seems very poignant during this awareness month.

Simply visit the website and order your very own Elephant Keepsake from your sentimental items of clothing you have in storage.

https://www.tracystreasuredkeepsakes.co.uk/partnering-with-chums-charity

Tracy Fishburn, Owner of Tracy's Treasured Keepsakes knows from her own personal experience just how devastating the loss of a baby can be. CREDIT: Tigz Rice

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