Garstang couple fundraising for babybeat after welcoming 'rainbow baby'
Martin and Amy Ballantyne lost their middle child at just four days old
Martin and Amy Ballantyne have been lighting up Garstang this week as part of baby loss awareness week.
They've managed to get dozens of shops and businesses on board, by getting them to agree to put blue and pink lights in their shop windows and display teddy bears.
There's also a toy sale on Saturday - with all proceeds going straight to babybeat.
The family was transferred to Royal Preston Hospital after Amy suffered a ruptured placenta during a c-section birth at another hospital.
Preston had better equipment and tools to give both Amy and Louie the best chance of survival and recovery, thanks to funds raised by babybeat and the equipment and improvements they've been able to invest in.
The pair are now urging more people to speak out about baby loss.
Amy told us:
"Babybeat raises money to provide Preston with more equipment to help more babies survive, obviously in some cases not, but they can provide better treatment, like my baby, Louie received colling treatment which we couldn't get form the hospital we were transferred from.
"Nathaniel ended up being in the same high dependency room Louie was in. Nathaniel also had the same team that helped Louie which was reassuring because they knew us, they knew Louie and they could talk about him
"They did everything they could to assure us that this time things were going to be very different.
"I know I'd be in the best place possible if we decided to have any more. I have to have C-sections now, so there's always a chance any future child would have to go into the neo-natal unit, which I know for a fact, I'd feel safer, and I think that's what it's all about."
Martin and Amy are now fundraising for Baby Beat to say thank you for the support they received from the NICU and the bereavement team.
This year they are lighting up Garstang to raise awareness of baby loss as part of baby loss awareness week.
Dozens of local shops have got involved on the high street by putting pink and blue lights as well as teddy bears in their shop windows.
Martin said:
"Preston were fantastic, we had support up until after Nathaniel was here. They offered anything we needed, including a memorial pebble with Louie's name and anniversary date on it.
"We've arranged for about 36 bears to be put on display around Garstang and shops and businesses have agreed to put pink and blue lights up in the windows as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week.
"If we're lucky and it's a success we may look into making it an annual event."