A couple who lost their twin babies have paid tribute to the midwife who cared for them, calling her “our angel on Earth”.
Hannah and Kieran Craig nominated NHS Lanarkshire Midwife Natasha Allan-Reeves for the prestigious Mariposa Awards, and were delighted when she scooped the Compassion Award at a ceremony in London.
Natasha, who’d been a qualified midwife for only six months, went above and beyond as she supported the heartbroken parents, whose sons, Oliver and Charlie, were born prematurely at 24 weeks and, sadly, passed away soon after.
Hannah, 28, said: “The Compassion Award was made for people like Natasha, who genuinely care and provide their patients with the utmost loving support during the most horrific times of their lives.”
The Craigs lived in Hamilton when Hannah became pregnant, and have since moved to Kilwinning in Ayrshire. When Hannah went into early labour in April last year, she was rushed to University Hospital Wishaw.
Hannah, a child support worker, recalled: “When we got to the hospital we were met by Natasha. During the chaos of that whole situation, she welcomed us with her warm, genuine and approachable nature and was exactly who we needed.
“Anyone who comes under the care of Natasha will be blessed. We call her ‘our angel here on Earth’.
“I gave birth on 26 April and the twins were immediately transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit because they were premature.
“Oliver passed away two days after being born, and we spent time with him in the maternity bereavement suite while Charlie remained in intensive care.
“The thought of Oliver being alone, while we visited Charlie, was completely impossible for us to comprehend, but Natasha would always come to sit with him, treating our little boy with so much respect, love and dignity.”
Charlie fought for another two days before Hannah and Kieran, 29, a security manager, had to make the dreaded decision on treatment withdrawal so he could slip away to join his brother.
Hannah added: “Natasha became our person – the one we would cry to. I’ll never forget the moment I lay under the covers, drenched in my own tears, terrified to face another day. It was Natasha who sat by my side.
“She’d ensure we ate and often offered to get us a takeaway once her shift finished.
“It was my birthday during our hospital stay and she arrived with a cake and a card. I needed that kindness that day. After the loss of both boys, I was a mum riddled with guilt, hating my body and myself.
“Our son, Harris, was one at the time. When he visited, Natasha had a little gift for him that made him smile from ear to ear – something a grieving mother and father desperately needed but struggled to do ourselves.
“We were anxious about leaving the hospital without our boys, so Natasha came in on her day off just to wave us goodbye and give us a big cuddle,” added Hannah, who also praised the dedicated midwife for attending the twins’ funeral.
Natasha, 25, a native of Blantyre who now lives in Hamilton, said: “I was very touched to be nominated by Hannah and Kieran and it was a wonderful surprise to win.
“I was a junior midwife in the postnatal ward at the time. I supported the family in the way I’d want to care for any family, helping them at the time they needed it most.
“I’m a twin as well. We talked about me and my twin brother and said it was somehow meant to be that I was the one who was looking after them,” added Natasha, the only Mariposa Awards finalist from Scotland.
The charity Mariposa International holds the awards to acknowledge the work of NHS and bereavement support professionals from around the UK, and to raise funds to support their global mission to care for parents who have lost a child during pregnancy, at birth or in infancy.
Cheryl Clark, NHS Lanarkshire Director of Midwifery, said: “Huge congratulations to Natasha from all of her colleagues – we’re really proud of her.
“To receive a UK-wide award like this is an extraordinary win.”
