Liam Walsh gives a brave and powerful interview after he and Missy Bo Kearns’ heartbreaking miscarriage, revealed last week.
In early March, Aston Villa midfielder and England international Missy Bo Kearns and Luton Town’s Liam Walsh revealed they were expecting their first child.
But Kearns sadly took to Instagram to reveal that their baby had died during the early weeks of pregnancy.
missybokearns wrote: “With very heavy hearts, we want to share that we’ve lost our baby during pregnancy.
“The past weeks have been filled with a kind of sadness that’s hard to explain, and we’re still trying to come to terms with it all.
“Right now, we’re focusing on recovering and supporting each other through this. We truly appreciate the love and support around us more than we can say X”
Interviewer: “You mentioned your family. You’ve obviously been through a really difficult period recently. How are you and how are your family?”
Liam: “Yeah, it’s been tough. You’re thinking every day it’s getting better and getting better and whatever, but I think that’s just trying to put a mask over it.
“I think, obviously, when I come into football and I’m with all the lads and they see me smile and joke and whatever and back to normal or whatever, think it’s when I get out of the training ground and you go back to normal life in reality, it’s hard. It’s indescribable, really.
“I think just being there for each other and the family that we’ve got as well on both sides is unbelievable. And the support that we’ve had, we couldn’t ask for more. We’re just taking each day as it comes.”
Interviewer: “Mate, I’ve just said this to you on the walk over, but the bravery in you speaking about it and, you know, coming back to being around this environment that it’s such a horrific thing that nobody should ever have to go through.
“But you speaking about it on a public platform is going to do so much for so many people that might not have that courage to speak out about it because it’s something that is unimaginable in terms of the effect that it has on a person.
“I just want you to know, like, whether the camera is here or not, how much we all love you and think you are amazing and you and your family are fantastic and anything that anybody around the football club can do for any of you.
“But just more than anything, mate, we think you’re incredible and thank you for coming and talking to us because this is all trivial, this is just not important.
“So thank you for doing that for us because what you will do for people that haven’t got a voice or can’t speak about it is something that I don’t think you’ll ever fully realise. So thank you.”
Liam: “No, I, like you just said that. think it’s like, obviously me my Mrs spoke about her as well and putting her out there and whatever. I’m not one for going out and talking about things anyway. I keep my private life private.
“But like you said, it’s the people that are in the public eye that go through similar things because the amount of messages I’ve had is just ridiculous. It’s of people I don’t know and I’ve never even met before. They’re all their love to me and my partner, obviously at this time you feel it off every single message.
“But there’s people out there that are living day to day life that are going through the same thing and not getting hardly half the amount of support.
“That’s not obviously their fault, it’s that we’re in the public eye and Missy’s at a big club, I’m at a big club. Like you said, goes without saying the support that I’ve had from this club and obviously Missy’s club at Aston Village, it’s been unbelievable.
“Whether we could go through it without that support, I’m not sure. Because we’ve had it from, obviously, the first time that we announced it. I was trying say as well, with the gaffer from the first minute I found out, obviously, he was one of the first persons I talked to because I trust so much. He’s protected me over the last few weeks and made me feel like I couldn’t be more thankful to him.”
View this post on Instagram
Baby loss helplines
Gov.UK
Request a baby loss certificate
If your pregnancy ends before 24 weeks, you can get a certificate in memory of your baby. It’s free to get a certificate. If your pregnancy ends from 24 weeks onwards, you need to register a stillbirth instead.
The Lullaby Trust (formerly FSID the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death)
Baby Safety Helpline: 0808 802 6869
Bereavement Support: 0808 802 6868
The UK’s leading baby charity working to prevent sudden deaths and promote health. Lullaby funds research, supports bereaved families and promotes safe baby care advice, including helpline for bereaved parents and their families, friends, neighbours and anyone else who has experienced the sudden death of a baby.
Sands (Stillbirth and neonatal death charity)Helpline: Freephone 0808 164 3332www.sands.org.uk
Sands provide support for bereaved parents and their families when their baby dies, before, during or soon after birth as well as information and support for healthcare professionals.
The Miscarriage Association
Helpline: 01924 200 799
www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
We know that miscarriage can be a very unhappy, frightening and lonely experience. If you have been affected by the loss of a baby in pregnancy, whether recently or long ago, we hope that you will find here support, information and comfort.
Petals (Pregnancy Expectations Trauma and Loss Society)
Petals was set up as a charity in 2011 by a group of healthcare professionals working in maternity care, alongside women who had experienced first-hand the loss of a baby, or trauma during birth.
We fund a specialist counselling service for parents affected by any of the following: Still birth, Neonatal death, Trauma/depression following delivery, Diagnosis of fetal anomalies, Antenatal anxiety/depression, Miscarriage, IVF anxiety, Fear of pregnancy/birth.
Tommy’s
Helpline: 0800 0147 800
Funds medical research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth and provides information on having a healthy baby. Raises awareness of the facts and provides free, accurate and up-to-date information for medical professionals and parents-to-be. This includes a dedicated telephone midwife service, a comprehensive website and free books and leaflets dedicated to promoting health in pregnancy and pre-pregnancy.
The Worst Girl Gang Ever
www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk
A membership support platform with podcasts, blog and courses for miscarriage and baby loss. It really is the gang that you’d never choose to be part of, but as you’ll soon find out that it is also a gang chokka-block full of kind, supportive, warrior women, just like you. By talking openly, honestly and conversationally about these sensitive topics, we aim to reduce the stigma, smash the taboo and break the silence that has surrounded baby loss for decades.
The Child Death Helpline
Freephone: 0800 282 986
The Child Death Helpline is a helpline for anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, from pre-birth to adult, under any circumstances, however recently or long ago.
Kicks Count
Kicks Count is a UK registered charity that aims to empower mums to be with knowledge and confidence throughout their pregnancy. A baby’s movement indicate its wellbeing and by understanding their baby, mums can be empowered to trust their instincts and ensure the healthy delivery of their baby.
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
A registered national charity, established to meet the needs of people who have experienced ectopic pregnancy and the health care professionals who care for them. The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust believes that the deaths and trauma associated with ectopic pregnancy should be prevented and seeks to both relieve the distress associated with it and provide ongoing support.
Ectopic Pregnancy Foundation
Patient Helpline: 0845 070 4636
The Ectopic Pregnancy Foundation (EPF) has been established with the aim of improving the care of women with a diagnosis, or possible diagnosis, of ectopic pregnancy. We hope to reduce the morbidity and maternal mortality caused by this common condition. For patients the website provides information on what an ectopic pregnancy is, plus the risk factors, symptoms, investigations and treatment options.
Footprints Baby Loss
Footprints Baby Loss provides vital support for families who have experienced the death of a baby from a multiple pregnancy. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity. We strive to support all of our volunteers, employees and everyone in our twin baby loss and triplet loss community regardless of gender, race, culture, age, disability, sexual orientation, social class, religion, identity and belief. We aim to ensure that everyone involved with Footprints feels welcome and at ease.
Twins Trust
The Twins Trust Bereavement Support Group (BSG) exists to support all parents and carers of multiples who have experienced loss whether it was during pregnancy, at birth or at any point afterwards. We are so sorry for your loss and hope that by making contact with the BSG you will find some comfort.
Lone Twin Network
The Lone Twin Network (LTN) is a support network, primarily serving the UK, but with many members overseas. All members are surviving twins and have that unique understanding of what it means to lose part of yourself when your twin – identical or fraternal – dies. Our membership comprises surviving twins who lost their sibling before, at or around birth; in childhood or as an adult.
Peeps
Call: 0800 987 5422
Peeps is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting those affected by HIE (Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy), a lack of oxygen to the brain that can cause injury. We provide information to both families and professionals. Peer support, because speaking to a parent or grandparent who has been through the same, or similar experience, can be helpful. Counselling and trauma therapy – Peeps is run by parents and volunteers. We are always happy to lend an ear but we’re not trained professionals. If someone affected by HIE would benefit from speaking to a trained counsellor, then we can arrange support and fund. We also help with costs for equipment if your child needs a little extra support you can apply for help towards the cost of equipment. In addition, we also have a separate bereavement fund.
Saying Goodbye
Contact: 0300 323 1350
Saying Goodbye provides comprehensive information, advice, support and much more to anyone who has suffered the loss of a baby, at any stage of pregnancy, at birth or in infancy, whether the loss be recent or historic. In addition, it looks to support people through subsequent pregnancies, fertility treatment and adoption.
ARC
Helpline: 0207 713 7486
ARC offers non-directive information and support to parents before, during and after antenatal screening; when they are told their baby has an anomaly; when they are making difficult decisions about continuing with or ending a pregnancy, and when they are coping with complex and painful issues after making a decision, including bereavement. We’re here for as long as you need us. Our helpline is answered by trained staff Monday to Friday, 10.00am-5.30pm.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login