'We had to prepare to say goodbye to our daughter before we even said hello'

'We had to prepare to say goodbye to our daughter before we even said hello' Heather Furlong and partner David Hill were delighted to learn they were expecting twins, then got a devastating blow A couple were left facing the heartbreaking prospect of saying goodbye to their daughter before they had even met her. Heather Furlong and her partner David Hill were excited to learn they were expecting twins. But their joy was quickly turned to heartache when they were delivered a devastating blow - a routine 20-week scan revealed one of their unborn daughters had only developed half a heart leaving the family facing decisions that no parent should ever have to make. The couple refused to give up hope - hanging on to the belief that baby Sophia would make it, despite a warning she might not survive the birth. Heather said: "If Sophia was fighting, we would fight." Tiny Sophia and her sister Isabella were delivered by Caesarean section at 36 weeks. Weighing just four pounds and four ounces, Sophia defied the odds to make it into the world. “She was a little fighter,” Heather remembers. “I thought she’d make it.” But the weeks that followed were filled with fear and uncertainty as Sophia remained in neonatal intensive care. Heather said: “I thought if I pick her up, am I going to pull the tubes out? That was my worst fear, and I regret not asking to pick her up more because I didn't want to break her. She was a teeny, teeny tiny thing.” At six weeks old, Sophia’s condition took another devastating turn. The medication keeping her heart working was damaging her other organs, and they faced the unimaginable prospect of saying goodbye to their little girl. For Heather, knowing Acorns Children’s Hospice was there to support the family, whatever happened, offered some comfort. “It helped me get through a little bit knowing they’d be there both ways, good or bad,” she said. Sophia died in her dad’s arms in the hospital, aged just seven weeks. Half an hour later, Acorns were there to take Sophia and her family to the hospice. Following her death, Sophia’s family were able to spend another six precious days with her in one of Acorns special bedrooms – a private temperature-controlled room. There, Heather could finally bathe her daughter for the first time, surround her with family photographs, play music and take her outside into the garden - longed for experiences they had missed while Sophia was in hospital. Heather, who has a son Kyle along with Sophia's sister Isabella, said: "I got to make more memories. She was seven weeks old and had never had a bath." Ensure our latest health news always appears at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings At Acorns, the couple were able to spend time with Sophia without all the tubes and equipment. Heather added: "Without Acorns, I would have been lost. Those extra six days were amazing. The memories we made – I can’t thank them enough. That’s when she was my little girl with just nothing extra, no tubes." Acorns also helped arrange Sophia’s funeral, including the horse and carriage Heather had wanted, and created keepsakes of her tiny hands and feet. The grateful mum added: "We can never repay what they’ve done. She’ll never be forgotten." Heather and David are now sharing Sophia’s story to highlight the support Acorns provides to families whose lives are turned upside down with a diagnosis during pregnancy as part of the charity’s Autumn Appeal. Sophia’s story shows just how important it is for families to have support from the moment they receive a devastating diagnosis. Acorns Children’s Hospice and supports more than 1,100 families every year, including those like Heather and David’s. This care and support is provided from Acorns three hospices in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, as well as in family homes and their communities. Acorns needs around £40,000 every day to provide its vital children’s hospice care, with over 75% of that amount coming from donations, fundraising and income from its charity shops. To support families like Sophia’s and help ensure no family has to face these moments alone, donate to Acorns Autumn Appeal at acorns.org.uk/Sophia.