In this week’s Guest Blog we loved hearing from Alyssa Ely-Cook from Abigail’s Footsteps, a wonderful charity founded by Jo and David Ward in memory of their daughter Abigail.
Abigail’s Footsteps: Supporting Families Through Baby Loss
The death of a baby is one of the most devastating experiences any family can face. Every year, thousands of parents in the UK experience the heartbreak of baby loss, and for many, the world they knew changes forever.
At Abigail’s Footsteps, we exist to ensure that no family has to walk this journey alone. Founded in 2010 by Jo and David Ward following the stillbirth of their daughter, Abigail, our charity was born from personal loss and a determination to improve the care and support available to bereaved families. Since then, we have grown into a leading baby loss charity, supporting parents across the UK while also working closely with healthcare professionals to improve bereavement care nationwide.
Creating Precious Time
One of the ways we support families is through our Abi Cooling Cots. These specially designed cots allow parents to spend additional time with their baby after death, giving them the opportunity to hold their child, create memories, take photographs, involve siblings and grandparents, and say goodbye in their own time. Many parents describe this time as priceless and something they will carry with them forever.
Family Support When It Is Needed Most
At Abigail’s Footsteps, we understand that support is needed long after families leave the hospital. Our Family Support Service provides compassionate, practical and emotional support to bereaved parents and their wider families as they navigate life after loss.
Every family’s journey through grief is unique, and there is no timeline for bereavement. Through our Family Support Service, we offer a listening ear, signposting to appropriate resources and services, and ongoing support tailored to each family’s individual needs. We help families feel less alone, empowering them to access the support they need and reassuring them that their baby’s life and legacy matter.
Specialist Counselling and Ongoing Support
Grief following baby loss is complex and deeply personal. At Abigail’s Footsteps, we provide specialist baby loss counselling to support parents as they navigate their grief. Our experienced counsellors offer a compassionate, safe space where families can process their emotions, talk openly about their experiences and find support during the darkest moments of their lives.
We also offer Pregnancy After Loss support for parents who are expecting another baby after experiencing a loss, recognising the unique mix of hope, fear and anxiety that often accompanies a subsequent pregnancy.
Supporting the Professionals Who Care for Families
The care parents receive immediately after the death of their baby can shape how they cope with their grief for years to come. That is why we are committed to educating and supporting healthcare professionals.
Through specialist bereavement training, counselling and supervision for maternity staff, we work in partnership with hospitals and the NHS to improve the care and support offered to bereaved families. By equipping professionals with both practical knowledge and emotional understanding, we help create environments where families feel cared for, heard and supported during an unimaginable time.
More Than a Charity
At Abigail’s Footsteps, we know that baby loss is not something parents simply “move on” from. The love for a baby who has died remains part of a family’s story forever.
Our role is to walk alongside bereaved parents and families, offering support, understanding and hope while also driving improvements in bereavement care across the UK. Every counselling session, every family supported, every trained healthcare professional and every Abi Cooling Cot represents an opportunity to make a profoundly difficult experience just a little less lonely.
Because every baby matters and every family deserves compassionate care and support when
they need it most.
To find out more about the work of this wonderful charity, please go to the Abigail’s Footsteps website.