National Manager – Peer Support, Felicity shares how lived experience led her to volunteer and subsequently work at Red Nose.
In loving memory of Grace
My daughter Grace was a healthy and happy two-and-a-half-year-old, full of fun, personality and sunshine. Like any parent, I had so many hopes and dreams for her future: watching her grow, learn, and become her own person.
She tragically passed away suddenly in her sleep on the 12th of November 2018. Her cause of death was reported to be Sudden Unexplained Death in Children, also known as SUDC.
Finding support after loss
My husband came across some flyers we had been given at the hospital and rang the Bereavement Support Line. From there we were linked in with counselling, which we both accessed for around eight months.
I remember a time very soon after my loss when I genuinely didn’t think I would survive what had happened. Being connected with others who had not only survived their own losses but were now supporting other parents gave me so much hope, comfort and reassurance.
From receiving support to giving back
A few years after my loss, once I’d had time and space to process my own grief, I felt ready to support other parents who were at the very beginning of their own loss journey. I commenced as a volunteer peer supporter with Red Nose as I wanted to give back for all the amazing support I had personally received from the Red Nose Bereavement team. I volunteered for three years before becoming a permanent staff member in the Peer Support Team.
The power of peer support
Volunteering felt like a meaningful way to honour my daughter’s memory while, hopefully, offering something to other families navigating the unimaginable. For me, peer support is about being willing to sit alongside someone in their pain, without needing to fix it or make it better. Sometimes, simply having someone who understands, who can listen and who isn’t afraid to sit in the difficult moments, can make such a difference.
Creating a space where families feel less alone
Now, as a staff member, I try to get involved in any way I can to support this important cause. I make a point of attending as many remembrance events as I can, both within Red Nose and in the wider community. For me, these events are an important way of honouring the families and babies we remember, while also helping to raise awareness of the incredible work Red Nose does to support families and communities.
I strive to help create a safe, welcoming and supportive space for every family who reaches out to us after their loss, a space where they feel heard, understood and never alone in their grief.
What is SUDC?
Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is the sudden and unexpected death of a child over the age of 12 months, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation is conducted.
Red Nose is currently funding research into the causes of SIDS/SUDI and SUDC. Bereaved Mum Melanie Andrew is undertaking research into the microbiome and immunological origins of Sudden Infant and Child Death. Below is a video taken in 2024, with more information about the study to come in the coming years.
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