Yesterday was a bittersweet day for our community as it marked the first birthday of Matilda Mae - a birthday she was sadly not around to share with her mummy and daddy and brother and sister.

On February 2nd this year, at exactly 9 months of age, her mummy Jennie put her down to sleep in her cot. Nothing was out of the ordinary, Matilda Mae was her usual self. Unfortunately, she entered a deep sleep and never woke up from her dream. Matilda Mae died from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

We are all touched by Jennie’s story and have all shed tears at the loss of such a pretty and smiley baby girl. She is only a matter of weeks older than Dexie so it’s heartbreaking to think they won’t achieve the same milestones in tandem.

Jennie and her family have bravely shared their story and are working hard to raise awareness of SIDS through their support of The Lullaby Trust, the UK’s leading baby charity aiming to prevent unexpected deaths in infancy. Jennie, with the help of fellow blogger Ghostwriter Mummy and Tots100, have organised a special Memorial Auction to remember Matilda Mae and support the Trust in doing the vital work they do with bereaved families.

So many prizes have been pledged for the auction (from major children’s brands to independent retailers) - it’s yet another example of how much Matilda Mae’s story has touched us all.

Please do head over to show your support and bid on some items. It doesn’t matter if your bid is big or small, every penny that is bid will make a difference.