Jacqueline and Jonathon Hoy want to break down the taboo of stillbirth.
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The couple’s twin boys Henry and William were born still on February 13, 2017.
The Port Macquarie couple have since become ambassadors for Stillbirth Foundation Australia to raise awareness and champion greater investment in stillbirth research and education.
“After what happened to us we looked at the statistics of how common it was,” Mr Hoy said. “We were just blown away that more wasn’t being done for such a prevalent tragedy.”
Stillbirth claims the lives of six babies every day in Australia and over 2000 each year.
Mrs Hoy said she doesn’t know why the issue is still such a taboo given how prevalent it is.
“I think people are a bit uncomfortable talking about it,” she said. “They probably don’t want to upset me or Jonnie.”
Mr Hoy said the older generation kept stillbirths to themselves. He said even though times have changed, the issue of stillbirth is still taboo.
The Hoys want to tell their story so hopefully more people will be able to tell theirs.
On the morning of February 13 Mrs Hoy noticed the twins weren’t really moving.
She went to the hospital and a scan revealed that Henry had passed away. William had a tiny heartbeat and Mrs Hoy was rushed in for an emergency c-section.
“As I began to come to, I could hear my poor husband crying,” she said.
“I didn't want to open my eyes. I didn't want this to be real. It couldn't be real."
“That was the moment I realised without having to be told that William hadn't made it either.
“My twin sons, my miracle babies. Taken straight to heaven, too precious for this world.”
The couple know Henry was diagnosed as an unexplained stillbirth and William died because of the shared placenta.
Since placing their story in the public eye the couple has had people contact them to thank them.
“I’m finding the more I talk about the boys the easier I can cope with it,” Mrs Hoy said.
The twin boys were both perfectly healthy throughout the duration of Mrs Hoy’s pregnancy. She was monitored very closely and went for scans every fortnight.
At about 34 weeks Mrs Hoy developed obstetric cholestasis which is a medical condition where pregnancy hormones (particularly oestrogen) affect the liver.
Mr Hoy said carrying twins and obstetric cholestasis are risk factors for stillbirth. However, there is still no direct linkage as to what causes stillbirth.
The Hoys described the moments of holding their twin sons as being “pretty much everything”.
Mr Hoy said they will always have the memories of their twins but they only had a certain amount of cuddles so each one was cherished.
The couple had a week with the twins and Mrs Hoy and said the hospital staff helped to cater for their emotional needs.
The Hoys have two other sons Lachlan who is eight-years-old and Edward who is two-years-old.
Lachlan understood that his brothers had died and Mrs Hoy said he has struggled to cope with the loss.
The Hoys will run in the 2017 City2Surf with family and friends as the Hoy Angels team to raise funds for the Stillbirth Foundation Australia.
“Because not enough is known about this tragic health issue,” Mrs Hoy said.
“We're hoping to be able to raise awareness and funds in honour of William and Henry which will hopefully make an impact and change the future for another family.”
