For Jemma and Dale, Louis will always be part of their family. They talk about him often. They say his name. They share stories about him with family and friends. During Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, they are sharing his story to encourage others to do the same.
"I love talking about him. He's our son, and that's how we keep him ive and acknowledge him, by talking about him and saying his name," Jemma says.
After Louis passed, Jemma and Dale were supported by the Women's bereavement team and given time with their son.
"It was so important and it was so meaningful to me, and just being able to hold him was so, so precious," Jemma says.
"You just kind of gave me time to say goodbye. I didn't feel rushed to do that."
Today, Louis remains part of everyday life for the family. The scent of lavender reminds Jemma and Dale of him, while sunflowers have become a special connection to their son. Family and friends will often share stories or photos of sunflowers that remind them of Louis.
Louis is also a regular topic of conversation with his cousin Eddie. Jemma says he often asks questions about Louis and talks about him openly. One day, after the family had connected Louis with the scent of lavender, Eddie announced he could smell lavender despite there being none around.
"He cares so much about Louis," Jemma says.
Dale says one of his strongest memories is feeling Louis kick for the first time.
"The first time Louis really came to life for me was feeling him kick," he says.
While he sometimes finds it difficult to put his feelings into words, Dale says he appreciates when people create space to talk about Louis and remember him.
Jemma adds that many people worry about bringing up babies after a loss because they are afraid of saying the wrong thing.
"The worst thing's already happened," she says. "The sadness we feel is always there. Talking about him makes that easier."
Since Louis passed, Jemma and Dale have looked for ways to honour him while supporting other families experiencing the loss of a baby.
Through fundraising, they helped purchase bereavement prams for the Women's. The prams give families the opportunity to spend time with their baby and create memories together.
Jemma and Dale hope other families will take every opportunity they can to spend time with their baby.
"I would just encourage people to, if the opportunity's there, just absolutely soak yourself in it because it's the only chance you get."
"This is something I could do," she says of the fundraiser. "This is right up my alley of my strengths, and this is a way to pay homage to him."
For Jemma and Dale, the prams are one part of Louis's legacy. More importantly, they hope Louis's story encourages people to keep talking about babies who have died and recognise that they remain an important part of their families.