WHEN Ryan Lewis and Laura Batt’s daughter Grace died, they decided they would do everything they could to prevent other parents going through the same thing.

The Witney couple founded charity Our Saving Grace to fundraise for research for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), from which Grace died in April 2012.

It sees blood move from one baby to another via the placenta, leaving one twin short of fluids.

Now the parents have joined up with the charity Action Medical Research to raise their profile.

Mr Lewis spoke after a visit from Paddington Bear to the Children’s Hospital at the John Radcliffe.

Oxford Mail:

Ryan Lewis and Laura Batt with surviving twin Isabella, two, left, and younger son Blake, one 

 

The 24-year-old, from Mirfield Road, said: “It was incredibly moving, the reaction that you get from the children – who are going through such a tough time – is incredible.

“And to see the smiles that you get, knowing that they are going to remember it, they just don’t have any worries in the world.

“It makes you wonder what people have to complain about when they are being so brave.

“It so hard to see, but really good at the same time.”

The couple, raised £2,000 for their charity by taking part in a 113-mile bike ride on August 31.

Grace was stillborn at 24 weeks while her sister Isabella, now two, was kept in intensive care for three weeks after being resuscitated.

The couple also have a son, Blake, one.

Paddington Bear visited the ward on Wednesday to put smiles on youngsters faces.

Eight-year-old Blake Primary School student from Witney, Tori St Clair, who is being treated for severe asthma, said: “It was really fun and I am going to give the Teddy to my little brother.”

The money raised by Bear Miles Breakthrough, which sees Paddington undertake a nationwide tour around hospitals, will also be used to fund research into conditions such as stillbirth, epilepsy, meningitis and cerebral palsy.

For more information, visit oursavinggrace.co.uk or action.org.uk

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