Mark and Becky Harris are walking the Three Choirs Way, a 100 mile loop passing through Worcester, Gloucester and Hereford to raise awareness of Vasa Praevia, in memory of their beautiful son James.  

James was born on 29th December 2015, 6 months to the day that they start their walk.  He was a perfectly healthy baby, yet he tragically only lived for 19 hours, as he had undiagnosed Vasa Praevia and suffered catastrophic blood loss at birth.  To read more about James's story please visit Becky's webpage by clicking on the Vasa Praevia Raising Awareness link on our team page.

Vasa Praevia is a devastating pregnancy condition that is thought to affect 1 in 2,500 pregnancies and 1 in 300 IVF pregnancies. It is not genetic and can happen to any pregnant woman.  Vasa Praevia occurs when one or more of the baby's blood/umbilical vessels cross the entrance to the birth canal. In late pregnancy these vessels can become compressed causing oxygen deprivation, and at the onset of labour (when the cervix dilates and the waters break) the vessels can tear causing rapid foetal haemorrhage.  Sadly 95% of cases undiagnosed before birth will result in the death of a full term healthy baby.  Babies that do survive risk serious complications such as brain damage and life long disability.  However when diagnosed in pregnancy by a simple colour doppler ultrasound scan and a management plan is observed (including an early C-section) there is a 100% survival rate.  There are some happy endings but not nearly enough.

These tragedies are preventable, but unfortunately babies and mothers are not screened for the condition as part of the routine ultrasound checks during pregnancy. Thanks to greater awareness some hospitals scan those at high risk, and safely deliver VP babies, but not all are, so that's why we need your help!

We want everyone to hear about this condition, especially pregnant women, to empower them to make more informed choices, and medical professionals, many of whom do not know that the condition can be diagnosed by ultrasound and lives saved.  Diagnosis can save lives, and full term healthy babies need not die at birth.

Please visit the Vasa Praevia Raising Awareness website (http://www.vasapraevia.co.uk) to read more about Vasa Praevia and the risk factors.  Please help us to spread the word to make others aware of the risks.  You can help save a baby's life!

James was looked after by the amazing team of nurses at the Special Care Baby Unit at Hereford Hospital after he was delivered by emergency C-section.  Donations will help fund more life saving equipment to give babies a better start in life.

VPRA have provided us with support, knowledge and advice about Vasa Praevia since we lost James, and they are a lifeline for parents who are lucky enough to be given the diagnosis that their unborn babies have the condition.  There is very little information about Vasa Praevia elsewhere on the internet and their guidance gives parents the confidence to demand a suitable management plan to deliver their baby safely.  VPRA are a volunteer led charity whose aim is to raise awareness of the condition, educating the public and medical profession alike, whilst at the same time are working with research professionals to highlight the case for babies to be scanned for this condition.

We have linked a third charity for donations, Cruse Bereavement Care.  Cruse operate nationwide and offer counselling and support to anyone profoundly affected by a death.  They have been our lifeline to help us navigate through the bewildering and senseless loss of our son, with several hours of one to one support.  Sadly the NHS does not offer the level of support we have found necessary and the charity sector is where we have ended up finding it.  We hope to raise money for Cruse to allow them to continue the amazing work that they do.