Couple’s heart-warming book donation to help grieving families

A bereaved couple have donated 24 heart-warming books to Medway Maritime Hospital to help other families either prepare to say goodbye to their baby or following the loss of a child.

Francesca Newman and her partner Adam McCabe gifted the ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ books in memory of their son Arthur who sadly passed away after he was born at 33 weeks on 20 January 2022.

The books were funded thanks to donations from friends and family through a JustGiving page, which was set up by the couple following Arthur’s death.

Francesca, 32, from Gravesend, said: “My parents used to read it to me when I was little and we bought it for Arthur before he was born. After he was born we read the book to him so it holds really special memories for us.

“We know how difficult and heart-breaking it is losing a child. You feel like you are the only people in the world going through it. Our hope is that other families who may find themselves in the same situation as us, will find comfort in reading this lovely, special story to their little one either as they prepare to say goodbye to them or following the loss of their baby.”

Eleven months after Arthur’s death the couple welcomed their second son George who was born at the hospital on 29 December 2022.