Our baby died - charity challenges help us cope

Lewis Peden was diagnosed with a neurological condition with "no miraculous survival stories"

When Georgie and Andrew Peden's son Lewis died aged just 17 months they say they had a choice.

They could either let their grief swallow them up or find the strength to honour him.

The Newton Stewart couple embarked on a year of charity challenges, culminating in a desert trek across the Sahara.

They have raised thousands of pounds for the Children's Hospice Across Scotland (CHAS) and Dumfries Infirmary's paediatric department.

The Pedens were told their baby might not live to see his first birthday

Lewis was just six weeks old when he was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition which, his mother said, had "no miraculous survival stories".

"We were warned that Lewis may not live to his first birthday, that he would likely suffer seizures that would be difficult to treat and would be at a very high risk of repeated respiratory infections each of which could take his life either suddenly or through a slower deterioration," said Georgie.

"We spent three nights in the hospital but quickly realised we wanted to be at home with our boy - something that would become a theme throughout Lewis' life as home was where he was happiest.

"Upon discharge, we were kindly told to take Lewis home, to love him and to make as many memories as we could."

Georgie said Lewis needed his parents "more than any typical newborn"

The diagnosis so soon after their son's birth was devastating.

"In a blink, we went from the happiest days of our lives to the worst imaginable," said Georgie.

"We had been told your newborn baby was going to die, but with no idea as to when and how, but before he did there was a chance he could experience some horrible, debilitating, and painful symptoms.

"The grief was more than words could ever describe, the pain in our hearts - a palpable, physical ache - but we needed to keep it together for Lewis' sake."

She said he needed them "more than any typical newborn" and they learned to take each day "one minute at a time, one hour at a time, one step at a time, one foot in front of the other".

That "mantra" helped them to look after their son until the day - 22 November 2022 - that he could fight his condition no longer.

"Lewis' life was tough, but it was also amazing, he was brave and strong and on the days it all felt too much, one look into his big brown eyes gave us the strength to keep going, he was our whole world, our night and day," said Georgie.

After his death, the couple found themselves in "total despair" with nothing left but to "sit in sorrow".

The Pedens said one look in Lewis' eyes gave them the strength to carry on

"One particularly bad evening we realised we had a choice, we could allow the grief to consume us, to swallow us up and waste two more lives or we could find the strength to honour Lewis and the promises we had made to him in his final few days with us," said Georgie.

"We got up and headed to our local pool, we swam nearly every evening for several weeks and switched to a healthier diet.

"As the weather improved and the evenings lengthened we began walking, we walked for miles and miles talking about Lewis and processing our emotions together."

It was then that they began using their exercise efforts to raise money for CHAS and a "cuddle blanket" - which allows grieving families a little more time with their child - for Dumfries Infirmary.

The couple turned their exercising efforts into fundraising after Lewis died

They climbed Ben Nevis, did the 21-mile Edinburgh Kilt Walk and completed all 40 walks of the Dumfries and Galloway Coast and Country walk book before they tackled their four-day desert trek.

Georgie said their efforts - which they have detailed on Facebook - had helped them to cope.

"The fundraising gave us a sense of purpose at a time when we both felt there wasn't much to live for," she said.

"There are many families out there going through similar trauma and it felt important to raise money in Lewis' name which would go towards ensuring they get the support they would need."

The Pedens said they would spend the rest of their lives honouring their son's memory

She said it had also helped to keep some part of Lewis alive.

"The fundraising has helped us turn our pain into purpose and survive our first year without Lewis," she explained

"We think about him and miss him every second of every day and it's incredibly important to us that the world knows about him, that he was here and he was ours and he was amazing.

"We intend to spend the rest of our lives honouring his memory by living well, trying to do good and always, always talking about him."

Listen to news from Dumfries and Galloway, follow the BBC for the south of Scotland on X or send your story ideas to [e-mail].