A mother has made a poignant tribute to her stillborn baby boy after he tragically died in the womb at 36 weeks before she could meet him.
Brooke Campbell, from Brisbane, was left ‘shattered beyond repair’ after she was told her unborn son Darcy no longer had a heartbeat in August 2017.
On his two-year anniversary of his death, the family-of-four travelled to a sunflower field in northern New South Wales in memory of little Darcy.
The 29-year-old mother shared a bittersweet picture of her four-year-old son Noah and 15-month-old ‘rainbow’ daughter Aspen holding his urn as they wished their much-loved brother on what could have been his second birthday.
Devastated mother Brooke Campbell (pictured holding stillborn son Darcy after he died in the womb at 36 weeks) was left ‘shattered beyond repair’ after she was told her unborn boy no longer had a heartbeat in August 2017
Mother Brooke Campbell shared a bittersweet picture of her four-year-old son Noah (right) and 15-month-old ‘rainbow’ daughter Aspen (left) holding their late brother’s urn on what could have been his second birthday
‘Can’t believe it’s been two years already since you left us,’ she wrote in an emotional post on her Instagram @mummas_mini_tribe.
‘There isn’t a day that goes by that we all wonder what you would be like now. Have the best day wherever you may be.’
There isn’t a day that goes by that we all wonder what you would be like now
Sharing a heartbreaking picture of herself cradling her stillborn son, the mother-of-three said celebrating her late son’s second birthday was just as challenging as his first.
‘For his first anniversary in 2018 it was quite hard but by having Aspen with us made it slightly easier as she was really helping us to grieve,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘This year was really hard around the time he was born, I did have tears and was quite emotional that day. But by having our two beautiful babies with us it made it better as we had lots of hugs and kisses.
‘To celebrate we lit a candle at night time, we all had cupcakes and sang happy birthday to him. My mum was over to help me that night as I was upset – but I held his urn and sang to him with tears rolling down my cheeks.
‘I told him how much we love and miss him. It’s still so surreal that he isn’t here and that he has passed.’
Darcy died after his pregnant mother suffered a severe haemorrhage, caused by a placental abruption – which occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus.
On his two-year anniversary of his death, the family-of-four travelled to a sunflower field in northern New South Wales in memory of little Darcy (pictured on Noah’s fourth birthday)
The then-27-year-old mum showing off her baby bump just weeks before she received devastating news her baby boy Darcy died after she suffered a severe haemorrhage
The couple are doting parents to four-year-old Noah (left) and ‘rainbow’ girl Aspen (right)
When she and her husband Elliot found out they were expecting their third baby, the couple couldn’t help but fear for the worst during the entire pregnancy.
‘Obviously when we were expecting Aspen it was the most anxious and stressful pregnancy as we thought history would repeat itself,’ she said.
It kills me when Noah says ‘Mummy why can’t I play with Darcy, where has he gone?’
‘But thank God it didn’t. I had weekly scans but as soon as she was placed on my chest it was such a huge relief.’
While both her kids are aware of their brother, the mother said the most heartbreaking part is when Noah asks why he can’t play with Darcy.
‘Noah is years old now so he refers to the stars, teddy bears and butterflies as Darcy. But it kills me when he says “Mummy why can’t I play with Darcy, where has he gone?”,’ the heartbroken mother said.
‘Noah misses him and always asks for another little brother. He says “Darcy is very brave mummy”. Aspen is only 15 months old so she doesn’t understand yet but we talk about him openly to her and have shown her photos.’
While both her kids are aware of their brother, the mother-of-three said the most heartbreaking part is when Noah asks why he can’t play with Darcy
Before Darcy’s due date: Ms Campbell pictured getting a maternity photo shoot with her son Noah – just weeks before she discovered her unborn son had died in August 2017
By sharing her story, she wanted other parents to draw hope from their experiences after she went on to welcome her ‘rainbow’ daughter (picture of Noah and his sister Aspen)
Like grieving parent, Mrs Campbell said she has learned many things over the years.
‘I have learnt not to go over “What if I had done something different or did I miss something?” It drives you crazy so I just try to learn to accept that it’s happened and that we will never know why it happened,’ she said.
Our daughter Aspen has been the best thing to happen to us, she truly is the definition of a rainbow after a terrible storm
‘It’s hard to process but it’s the best thing to keep you sane. I have only just been able to look at some birthing photos of his birth as it was still so raw and painful but I am slowly getting used to the thought of him not coming home.
‘I have also learnt to enjoy each day as it comes and treasure the little moments with my babies and family as you never know what’s around the corner.’
By sharing her story, she wanted other parents to draw hope from their experiences.
‘I personally said to myself “I need to have another baby as soon as I can to help me grieve” and I did fall pregnant only a couple of months later with aspen,’ she said.
‘And honestly she has been the best thing to happen to us, she truly is the definition of a rainbow after a terrible storm.’
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