Remembering Quinn: how connection can help families through baby loss

We are extremely grateful to Lawley residents who have shared their very personal stories to help support others who have been through baby loss.

Baby Loss Awareness Week is a time to remember babies who have died, acknowledge the grief of families who have experienced loss, and remind those families that they are not alone.

For Sam and Andy, who have lived in Lawley for 11 years, the week has a deeply personal meaning.
In 2015, Andy’s sister gave birth to her second child, Ellis, who was sadly stillborn. The experience had a profound impact on the whole family and opened their eyes to the reality of baby loss and the effect it can have on families.

Then, in 2022, Sam and Andy experienced the devastating loss of their own son, Quinn, who was born extremely prematurely at just 26 weeks and sadly died when he was five days old.

“Baby Loss Awareness Week holds a special place in our hearts,” Sam says. “It falls around the time of both Quinn’s birthday and the date we said goodbye to him. It gives us the chance to reflect, remember, and share stories about our beautiful boy.”

Keeping Quinn’s memory alive

For Sam and Andy, remembering Quinn is part of family life. They light candles, speak his name, send birthday cards to him and include him in family traditions. Each year, they plant a rose bush in their garden on his birthday – something beautiful to nurture and watch bloom throughout the year.

When their son Flynn was born in 2025, the joy of welcoming him did not take away the heartbreak of losing Quinn. Instead, new milestones have sometimes highlighted the moments they never had the chance to share with Quinn.

“We want people to speak Quinn’s name. We never want him to be forgotten,” Sam says.
Their message is one of love as much as loss: a baby who has died remains part of their family and remembering them can mean so much to those who are grieving.

Finding connection in the Lawley community

After Quinn died, Sam says there was very little support around baby loss within the local community.
That changed when Sam saw another Lawley resident, Nina, share a post on the Lawley Facebook page about her son Michael’s funeral. Having experienced baby loss themselves, Sam reached out.
What started as a simple message developed into a close friendship between two families who understood the complexities of grief without needing to explain them. They supported one another through difficult days, celebrated small victories and shared their experiences of pregnancy after loss.
Their friendship is a powerful example of what can happen when people feel able to talk openly about experiences that can otherwise feel incredibly isolating.

It is also a reminder of why creating opportunities to talk, remember and connect matters within our communities.

At Bournville Village Trust, we believe communities are at their strongest when people feel they belong and know there are people around them who care. Sometimes that can start with something as simple as a conversation, a shared experience or reaching out to someone who understands.

No one should face baby loss alone
Sam’s message to anyone who has recently experienced baby loss is simple: “You are not alone.”
There is a community of people who are ready to listen, hear about their baby and help keep their memory alive. “Your baby’s life matters, your story matters, and you never have to face this journey on your own,” Sam says.

Baby Loss Awareness Week gives all of us an opportunity to pause, remember and think about how small acts of kindness can make a lasting difference – whether that is checking in with someone, remembering an important date, or simply saying a baby’s name.

As Sam puts it: “Grief doesn’t have an end date. Although life continues and joy can return, the love for a baby who has died never goes away.”

This week, we remember Quinn, Ellis, Michael and all the babies whose lives, however short, have left an enduring mark on the families who love them.

And we remember that sometimes, simply being there for one another can make a world of difference.

Do you have a story to share?
In Lawley, we know there are many residents with inspiring stories, personal achievements, fundraising challenges, hobbies, talents or experiences that could encourage others in our community.
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re taking on a personal challenge, raising money for a cause close to your heart, helping others or simply doing something you’re proud of, we’d love to help share your story.

Your experience might be just the inspiration someone else needs.

If you live in Lawley and would like to be featured in a future resident story, please get in touch with the BVT Estates & Stewardship team at [email protected].