I am always so inspired when I meet people who do amazing things for something or someone they are passionate about! Aileen is one of those people!
We first met Aileen and Geordo at parent craft classes just over 9 years ago. None of us knew then that this was their second child they were attending the classes for.
I am so glad I can share her story with you.
"My name is Aileen and I’d like to share a wee bit about my story as to why I’m doing this challenge!
In 2003 I married Graham (or Geordo as he’s also known!). Only a couple of months later on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year I did a test and discovered I was pregnant! I was totally accurate with my dates and was delighted to work out that our baby was due September 3rd 2004.
6 weeks into pregnancy I started spotting so that meant a scan which showed our ‘nut’ with a little heart beating strongly. Further bleeding and another couple of scans showed the same strong heart beat, but our dates had changed. First to September 10, then to September 13, finally September 17.
If this hadn’t been our first pregnancy, I think I’d have been more on the ball regarding the dates moving. After all, I knew I’d tested at the earliest moment and my arithmetic isn’t that bad!!!!
My doctor advised me to not do too much – sit and rest when possible – not that easy as a PE teacher! This wasn’t to protect the baby so much as to protect myself mentally just in case something did go wrong ... I wouldn’t blame myself.
Easter Monday 12 April, I went to see the midwife for my first Doppler listening in! Geordo was off work so came with me – we were rather excited! Much as she tried, the midwife couldn’t find a heartbeat.
So, Raigmore beckoned for us. I still thought it was ok – we were reassured that this can sometimes happen. The normal scanning place wasn’t available so we were put to the x-ray department.
It was awful – that absolutely horrendous sinking feeling as the person scanning left the room to get a second opinion. It wasn’t real … yet it was.
Off to ward 9 to meet with a midwife and I truly thank God for giving me Ann that day – I know Ann’s brother really well and I knew she’d gone through the same thing a number of years ago with her own twins. I knew she understood.
We went home with the understanding that we would come back in the morning for me to be induced.
After the longest day of my life little Rosie Thomson was born at 11:13pm. I asked if I should see her – and the Doctor advised no. That was it. All over.
We spent the night in ‘the room’ in ward 10.
The marvellous Iain MacRitchie (hospital chaplain) our friend from church, came to see us the next morning. He asked if we would like to give our baby a funeral. At that point we didn’t know if she was male or female – this would be discovered in the coming days.
When we discovered we had a wee girl, I was determined her name would be a cheery name. And that’s when we came up with the name Rosie. We later discovered that Rosie was a ‘triploidy’ baby. In other words, instead of the set of chromosomes she should have got from each parent, she got a full extra set from me. She would never have survived.
We are blessed with a sister and brother for Rosie - Helen is 9 and Gavin is nearly 7!
Most people I tell about this challenge think I'm mad, but they have been really encouraging recognising that raising money for SIMBA is an excellent way to keep Rosie's memory alive! Rosie will have her 10th birthday this year. I will also turn 40! So the challenge is not only in her memory, but to kick me up the backside to remind me of the sheer adrenalin kick that a challenge like this will bring. I’m terrified, but excited! And certainly, determined."
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