Mum whose son died from rare infection praises 'exceptional' NHS teams
A mum whose baby died tragically from a rare infection aged only 8 days has thanked the nurses and midwives who supported their family during “the darkest time in our lives”.
Jodie Picknett, from Tadworth in Surrey, gave birth to baby George at Epsom Hospital in April 2023 – shortly afterwards, he was back being treated for jaundice when he suddenly became very unwell and lethargic. At just seven days old, he was admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit.
That night, George deteriorated and despite the incredible efforts of the neonatal nurses, he sadly passed away.
A post-mortem later revealed that George had contracted a severe virus (enterovirus), which is generally mild for most people – but, in rare cases, can be deadly for newborns.
For Jodie and her family, the support of Lydia Baker, the Specialist Bereavement Midwife, and the Maternity Bereavement Team at Epsom Hospital, helped them through a traumatic time.
They liaised with the coroner and post-mortem services on the family’s behalf, and connected them with funeral directors who specialise in compassionate care for grieving families.
Jodie, 37, said: “Lydia supported us through every step – from looking after George and making practical arrangements, to simply being there when we needed her. Her compassion and understanding made the hardest moments that little bit more bearable.”
Thanks to funding from Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity, Lydia and her team provide ‘memory castings’ for bereaved families. These detailed hand and foot casts give parents a lasting physical connection to their baby that they can treasure forever.
“When a baby dies, families don’t have a lifetime of memories, so creating something tangible in that moment is vital,” Lydia explained.
Previously, families received basic hand and foot prints, but funding from the charity has allowed the team to offer full 3D casts, capturing every tiny detail. This is available from the twenty-sixth week of pregnancy.
Now, Jodie is fundraising for the charity so they can continue funding this special work. She is urging people to donate a ribbon, which will form a touching display at their local church, with proceeds ensuring more families will be supported through their loss.
Jodie said: “After George died, the bereavement team helped guide us through the darkest time in our lives with empathy and respect. By fundraising, we hope to help Lydia and her team continue their vital work, ensuring more families receive the same compassionate, specialist care that we did during the darkest time in our lives.
“Our ribbon display is a small gesture, but it offers a space for others to remember their babies too. It’s a way to say: your baby mattered, and they are not forgotten.”
For Jodie and her husband Ben Picknett, 41, Epsom Hospital holds a special connection for them – their daughter Alice was also born there in August 2021 and their third child Lucy was born there in May 2025.
She said; “We think about our son every day – he is part of everything we do. We will never get to see George reach milestones like taking his first steps, saying his first words, or starting school. That loss is felt every day. So being able to say his name and honour his memory publicly is inc redibly important to us.
Molly Simpson, Head of Charity and Fundraising at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity, said: “Losing a baby is devastating for any family and we are very proud to support the teams who help them through their grief.
“We’re grateful to Jodie and her husband Ben for sharing such a personal story and know it will inspire others to give what they can – your generosity will mean our exceptional teams can continue to support bereaved parents when they need it most.”
Jodie is sharing her story during Baby Loss Awareness Week, which aims to give anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss an opportunity to share their experiences.
