Festive fundraiser helping mum get through baby loss

A MUM whose baby son died unexpectedly six months ago is throwing herself into fundraising activity to help her cope with her loss.

Stevie Dixon of Sicily Road, Inverness woke up on May 20 to find 10-week-old Harry had died during the night.

Speaking about it publicly for the first time, the horror of that morning remains vivid for the 26-year-old home carer who is bravely trying to move on with her life with her husband Liam (29) and their other two sons Charlie (5) and Zak (2).

“We woke up and he was gone,” she said, adding that she was in such a state her husband had to call the ambulance before carrying out CPR.

“We did everything we could till the ambulance arrived, but we knew he was gone.

“He was just starting to get his own personality and was a happy wee boy and in good health. It all came right out of the blue.”

Harry was a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death – the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.

As part of coping with the tragedy Mrs Dixon has thrown herself into fundraising to help others in a similar situation.

She has been supported throughout by close friend Shelley Gill (33), who was pregnant with daughter Jessica-Jan at the same time Mrs Dixon was expecting Harry.

The pair are both members of the Inverness Military Wives Choir and live in the army’s married quarters in Inverness.

“Liam was in Iraq when Harry was born on March 7,” Mrs Dixon said. “He never saw him till he was seven weeks old and he only had three weeks and five days with him.

“I have tried to keep busy.

“The fundraising is something positive we can do and I’m trying to teach the boys these things happen in life and you have to be strong. I’m trying to be a good role model even though it is hard some days.

“Zak is too young, but Charlie talks about Harry a lot. He says he is up in the sky and his granny is looking after him.”

After Harry’s funeral family and friends raised £2500 which was split between the Scottish Cot Death Society (SCDS) and Simpson’s Memory Box Appeal (SiMBA) Inverness, a charity which supports families who have lost a child through SIDS locally.

A further £500 was raised at an evening of mediumship in August which was divided between SCDS and Maggie’s Highlands, who supported Mrs Gill’s family after her gran died of cancer.

They are now planning a Christmas fete to be held at the Wimberley Way Community Centre from noon to 3pm on Saturday, December 1. All proceeds will go to the same two charities.

Mrs Gill said: “Jessica’s now 10 months old and Stevie sees her growing every day and reaching milestones that little Harry would be going through. I can’t imagine how difficult it’s been for them both.

“His death stunned everyone. It was so sad. But everyone who lives in the married quarters and members of the choir have rallied round.

“Stevie has got some amazing prizes for a raffle and an auction and we are sure there will be a big turnout on the day.”