4 days Ago By [email protected] (Gregor White)
An Inverness mother who suffered an unimaginable loss is hoping to see some good come out of tragedy by encouraging everyone to do what they can to help those in need. Daisy McKenzie and husband Eoin welcomed son Albie into the world on April 13, 2022, when he fell victim to sudden unexpected death in childhood (SUDC), passing away without warning in his sleep. Since then Daisy has been a determined advocate for baby loss support charity , helping raise funds to support its work and now training as a peer support volunteer, to help others who have suffered a similar loss.
April 28 will mark two years since the family lost Albie, a loss that could not have been prevented, and Daisy has been putting her mind to the best way to mark the anniversary, deciding that helping those whose lives can be improved is the best way to honour her little boy. “I would have done anything to save Albie, but currently there is no way of predicting or preventing SUDC,” she said. “He went to sleep a happy, healthy one-year-old boy.
“There’s nothing I or anyone else could have done to save him, but in so many different situations people can be helped - we know what they need. “So I think if I, and hopefully others, can play a tiny part in helping others live - and their families’ hearts not break - then we should, if we can, do it.” An auxiliary nurse working in Ward 7C at Raigmore Hospital, Daisy has now signed up to donate blood at the Inverness Donor Centre, based at the hospital, on April 28 - and is set to be joined by a number of family, friends and colleagues doing likewise.
“By giving blood we can help save people who can be helped,” she said. And she would be delighted for more people to join them, either on the day itself, or whenever they can manage: “Wherever you are, whenever you can, let’s all give blood and help others to live in this wonderful world that Albie would have had so much fun in. “That way he may not be able to enjoy the gift of life but he can help others do so.
And I think he’d like that very, very much.” She is delighted her own effort mirrors Courier publisher Highland News and Media’s Give Blood, Save Lives campaign to boost donations across the Highlands and Moray. “It all helps,” she said.
“Giving blood is a ‘real’ way of helping people in need whether that’s because they’ve had an accident or they’re ill. “The campaign is a great way of spreading the word and hopefully I can help add to that for Albie as well.” Daisy has tried twice to give blood previously but was unable to do so, once because her iron levels were too low and on the second occasion because she had recently had a tattoo.
She is hoping it will be third time lucky. “It’s definitely something I have thought about before and have been keen to do for quite some time - and if you can help someone, really, why wouldn’t you?” she said. That was also her advice to anyone who has been thinking about giving blood but never got round to it.
“I set up my Albie’s Gift social media page for campaigning and fundraising not long after Albie died, because he was a gift and it’s nice to think that in some way, hopefully by inspiring others to give blood, he can actually give a gift to those in need,” she said. “He gave us so much in the time he was with us and can continue to give in this way, and though I know that not everyone can donate, if you are able, I would say just go for it.” To find out about what is involved in giving blood and whether you are eligible to donate, as well as to view and book donation slots across the Highlands, go to www.
scotblood.co.uk.
