Bethany Grace Hawkins was born on Thursday 22nd April 2010 at 2.28am. She was a much wanted daughter and baby sister for Jacob. When Bethany was first born, like any Mum I was worried – I couldn’t hear her crying, was she breathing and was everything ok with her- the nurses reassured me she was perfect. We were so pleased she was fine and healthy, although, they noticed her left foot wasn’t sitting correctly, but they said a bit of physio would sort that out- we joked and said what is it with our children; Jacob and the problems we had with his head when he was first born and now Bethany with her foot! One end of the body to the other! It hit us we were now parents to two children; Jacob and Bethany our family was now complete. We had forgotten what it was like to hold such a small baby in our arms, she was so light and fragile We both sat there and studied her- she had a full head of hair; quite dark hair, big wide blue eyes, her skin was so soft to touch. Her ears were all wrinkled and creased. We both commented on her little nose, just like Jacob’s! Also, the size of her toes they were so long. We just sat there looking at our perfect daughter, we were so happy. We were all taking photos of her- we joked saying that she’ll have to get used to this- Bethany was weighed she was 7lb 4oz, exactly the weight Matt had guessed from early on in the pregnancy. She was so alert looking around- being nosy just like her Daddy. So content just laying there in her cot. I would stroke down her nose to get her off to sleep, she liked it too, just like her big brother Jacob does. She cried when Matt dressed her, it was nice, reassuring, to hear her cry and make some noise. She looked so beautiful in her pink baby grow outfit. I was so pleased giving Bethany her first feed, it was so much easier second time round, probably helped her being a girl- not so lazy like Jacob was! Matt was soon back a few hours later. He had arrived just on time to do her first nappy change. We took many more photos of Bethany…. feet with hospital tags on, her hands just like we had with Jacob. Matt was having a cuddle with Bethany when a nursery nurse came and noticed Bethany breathing was laboured- we just thought it was a whining noise she was making- like babies do-we had no idea that this was the start of what was to come………. Bethany spent the rest of Thursday at Basingstoke neonatal unit, where she met her proud grandparents. She was then transferred Friday afternoon to Southampton- there she met her big brother Jacob. He would stroke her hand and head while she laid there, saying ‘baby sister’. The extended family then had the opportunity to meet their niece, we are so glad that they did. During Saturday the consultants wanted to talk to us- we were then told the devastating news that we were not wanting to hear- we were losing our little girl(Group B Strep Infection). We were so hopeful, so many people were praying for her. The hospital staff had tried everything to help her, there was nothing more that they could do. We all spent some time with Bethany, knowing that this would be our last. Matt and I stayed with her until she decided it was time, she went peacefully, surrounded by all our love.