Even though her baby girl had passed away before she could be born, one mother was determined to bring her daughter home and sleep beside her for two weeks — for a reason that has deeply moved everyone who hears her story.

A mother has revealed that she spent two weeks sleeping with her little daughter in a cot beside her bed after the baby had passed away.

Lisa Fletcher, from Killamarsh, Derbyshire, England, gave birth to baby Lillie-Grace at 37 weeks in October, after doctors told her that her daughter had passed away before birth. But the 44-year-old mother and her husband, Nik, 34, chose to bring Lillie-Grace home in a small cot and even introduced her to their relatives.

Lisa said: “From the very first moment I saw Lillie-Grace, I felt the purest and most unconditional love. I felt so proud that I was still a mother and that I could hold her, kiss her and spend that precious time with her.

“Unless you have been through this, you cannot understand it. She was part of our family, so I wanted to treat her just like any other baby.”

Parents in this position should not be afraid of being judged or worry about what other people might think. Love is love.”

Lisa already had three older children, but Lillie-Grace was her first child with her current husband, Nik, and the couple had conceived their daughter through IVF. After months of pregnancy, their world changed just days before Lisa was due to give birth, when they learned that their daughter had passed away.

Lisa said: “As soon as the procedure was over, the doctors gave Lillie-Grace to Nik to hold. She looked like an angel peacefully sleeping, she was absolutely beautiful. Even the doctor said how beautiful she looked, and the staff treated her just like any other baby.”

Lisa and Nik were taken to the funeral home and had Lillie-Grace christened in the hospital chapel the following day. The couple bought a christening dress for their daughter, and Lisa described the ceremony as “the right thing to do.”

The couple spent two nights in hospital before returning home to introduce Lillie-Grace to her older siblings and other friends and family. When they arrived home, Lisa and Nik placed their daughter in the cot at the foot of their bedroom and slept beside her there.

Lisa recalled: “The only thing I wanted to do was bring her home and place her beside my bed in the cot we had bought for her. I also introduced her to my parents and my closest friends. They all said how perfect she looked. It was incredibly difficult to explain what had happened.

“Being able to share her with the people I love and create memories with her was so special. We were together, and although it was an incredibly difficult situation, we had still managed to bring her home and show her where home was.

“When I went to bed that night and knew she was still there, it felt peaceful. We were all under one roof together.”

The following day, the couple took Lillie-Grace to the funeral home, where they visited her every day before the funeral took place. One day before the service, Lisa and Nik held their daughter for the final time and placed her in her little casket with a farewell letter.

They still visit her resting place four times a week and always give her a goodbye kiss. Today, Lisa and Nik are also dedicating their time to turning hundreds of donated dresses into “angel gowns” for babies who have passed away. Each delicate white gown is made from donated wedding or bridesmaid dresses and is sent directly and free of charge to hospitals, funeral homes and families.

Lisa said: “Every time we visit Lillie-Grace, we tell her how much we miss and love her and how sorry we are that we cannot watch her grow up.

“We are creating these gowns to help other families who have not yet had to walk this difficult journey and to give them something unique, made with so much love for their beautiful little angels.

“We hope it brings them a little comfort and reminds them that they are never alone.”

Source: The Sun