
Since then Lou has become Chair of the Derby Sands group and works tirelessly to support other bereaved families and help them through their loss. She has established the local hospital giving our memory boxes when a baby dies, something she and Matt didn’t receive when Lauren died. This makes an enormous difference to families as they have everything they need to make memories of their babies, a box full of items they will treasure.
Lou works in healthcare herself and knows how important these things are to families, and how much difference they make. Matt is a fire fighter, and is used to working in situations of crisis, but going through losing his own daughter was something he was not prepared for. And their son Finn, now 7, misses his sister terribly. They each find their own ways of coping with their loss.
We interviewed Lou extensively on Friday, she shared her most personal memories with us and showed us all Lauren’s keepsakes. She also read the poem to us that she read at Lauren’s funeral. We then visited the cemetery and spent time at Lauren’s grave where we talked to Finn about his sister, and interviewed Matt about how he has grieved from a fathers perspective.
We’d like to thank them all for sharing their story and being so open and honest about their feelings.
We’ll be filming more with Lou and her family later in the year and also finding out more about Lou’s work with Sands.
Our crew for the day out on set was Grant Bridgeman – Sound Recordist, Emma Dalesman DoP, and Debbie Howard – Director. Producers were Colin Pons and Polly Perkins.