Three days after Lauran Ellis-Hughes experienced the tragic loss of her baby son Theo, she received a life-changing call from a specialist coordinator at Red Nose, Australia’s foremost organisation for bereavement support following child loss. Lauran expressed that this call and the subsequent support they received were crucial during such an unimaginably difficult time for her and her husband, Alex.
Recently, however, the organisation faced a severe crisis when a ‘bureaucratic error’ resulted in a $6 million funding cut from the federal government, putting its vital 24/7 support line at risk. This would have led to significantly longer wait times for counselling services, extending from six weeks to an alarming six months. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stepped in, promising $2 million annually for the next three years to ensure families like Lauran’s could continue accessing necessary services.
Lauran shared her relief upon receiving the news of the restored funding, highlighting the critical nature of the services provided by Red Nose. Through her ordeal with Theo, she revealed that she was unaware of the profound importance of such support until it was needed. At 28 weeks pregnant, she learned through a scan that her son had severe developmental issues and would not survive. This led to the harrowing decision to terminate the pregnancy. Theo passed away in utero, and Lauran delivered him three days later, cherishing the brief time they spent together.
During her hospital discharge, Lauran received a pamphlet regarding Red Nose’s services. Grappling with raw grief, she and Alex reached out, initiating a crucial healing journey that included several support sessions with a coordinator who had endured similar heartbreak. This connection granted them a sense of understanding and lessened the isolation often felt during such mourning.
The couple benefited from extensive counselling, which continued even through Lauran’s subsequent pregnancy, ultimately leading to the birth of their healthy baby girl. Lauran lamented the thought of a bureaucratic oversight jeopardising the support for numerous families enduring similar loss.
Prime Minister Albanese admitted he was unaware of the funding reductions until recently and reaffirmed the commitment to support Red Nose financially. Red Nose’s CEO, Amy Cooper, expressed gratitude for this recognition, reassuring that such funding would continue to provide vital assistance to bereaved families during their most challenging moments.
Lauran attested that without Red Nose, she and her family would not have navigated through their grief nor welcomed their new child. Emphasising the charity’s pivotal role, she opined that the importance of its services cannot be overstated.