A COUPLE who went through the heartbreak of having a stillborn baby are raising funds for a hospital suite that will ease the pain of other grieving parents.

Hannah and Quinn Swancott’s daughter Luna, the couple’s first child, arrived stillborn at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley last month.

The Wollaston couple, both 29, knew Luna would be stillborn but the lack of a specialist bereavement delivery suite at the hospital meant Hannah had to give birth on a normal ward.

Russells Hall are aiming to raise £50,000 to build a specialist delivery suite – and the Swancotts are determined to help so other couples avoid a similarly heartbreaking experience.

Hannah said: “It’s surprising really that such a big hospital doesn’t have a bereavement suite already.

“The reason we feel so strongly about helping them is, when delivering Luna, we knew she was going to be born sleeping, yet we were in the normal ward, surrounded by happy families and hearing babies being born.

“It was just such a hard thing to hear and we’re really hoping by helping to raise this money we can help them add soundproofing.

“Russell’s Hall really are doing the right thing raising money to build something that’s much needed.

“It’s something we never thought we would need to use, nor realise the importance of until you’re in this heartbreaking situation.

“The one thing we feel really strongly about is making sure other families feel the love and support that we felt and to know that they are not alone during such a heartbreaking time.”

Hannah and Quinn are holding a ‘fun-raising’ evening in memory of Luna, called ‘Luna’s Legacy Event’, at the Fox Inn on Bridgnorth Road, Stourton, on Saturday, August 11, starting at 7pm.

They hope to raise as much money towards Russells Hall’s fundraising drive as possible – and have been helped by donations of some amazing raffle and auction prizes.

A wedding video package, a four-night stay in Marbella, a family photoshoot and two tickets for a murder mystery train are among a host of prizes up for auction.

The raffle prizes, meanwhile, include a gin distillery tour, luxury hampers and pampering treatments.

Admission costs £5 per person, which includes entry to a quiz, plus a burger or hot dog.

Karen Phillips, Dudley Group NHS Charity fundraising manager, said: “Hannah and Quinn’s pledge to get behind our appeal is fantastic; they have already got off to a great start.

“We really appreciate how they are supporting the appeal in such a significant way.

“The appeal will enable us to improve the environment in which families spend time adjusting to the death of their baby and provide keepsakes to enable the family to build some precious memories.”

For more details on the fundraising drive, visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/dghc/babybereavement

And for more details on the event at the Fox Inn on August 11, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/154493832089708/?ti=ia