Swaffham family of Josh Howlett pay tribute to baby boy

She was just four days into her 30th week when she realised that her baby’s movements had become different. 

Before she was able to get to see a doctor, she suffered a massive bleed and was rushed into theatre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. 

She quickly underwent an emergency caesarean section and her son, Josh, was born. 

At first, he appeared to be doing well, but two days later his lung collapsed, and he later died aged just four days old. 

Baby Josh Howlett - Picture: East Anglia Children's Hospice (Image: Each)

Mrs Howlett, who lives in Holme Hale, near Swaffham, explained how there were no words for her and her husband’s devastation as Josh died in their arms. 

She said: “After the c-section, it was several hours before I recovered from the anaesthetic and was able to go into the neonatal intensive care unit and see Josh. 

“We were told he was doing well and that we’d be able to hold him soon, which we looked forward to. 

“However, at less than two days old, Josh's lung collapsed. 

“It meant oxygen was not getting around his body." 

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Although doctors tried to get him to breathe, he was diagnosed with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn, known as PPHN. 

Mrs Howlett, and husband Philip, were told their baby needed to be transferred to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for specialist care. 

The next day, however, scans revealed devastating news. 

Josh had suffered from bleeds on both sides of his brain and his organs were starting to fail, so the couple were asked for permission to turn off his life-support machine. 

Mrs Howlett, an accountant at Larking Gowen, added: “The following day, we were able to hold Josh for the first time as he died in our arms.”

Each supported the family to make memories, including a special plate - Picture: East Anglia Children's Hospice (Image: Each)

It was a doctor that mentioned East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (Each) to the family, suggesting the charity may be a source of support. 

“We didn't understand how at the time but agreed for them to come and see us,” Mrs Howlett said. 

“Together with two of the team from Each, we spent time with Josh making memory items. I felt numb and struggled to take in what had happened. 

“Each then supported us with arranging Josh's funeral, giving us ideas of songs, poems, and music other families had used. 

“We’ll always wonder what Josh would have been like.  

“I remember looking forward to him joining our family and talking to Ben, who was two at the time, about having another little brother.”

The Howlett family today - Picture: East Anglia Children's Hospice (Image: Each)

With Each’s support, Mrs Howlett had counselling for around a year, and the family attended monthly bereavement support groups, memory days, and annual Christmas carol services. 

Now, eight years on, the bereaved mum has signed up for a charity fundraiser as a fitting way to keep Josh’s memory alive. 

The whole Howlett family will be taking part in the Norwich Bubble Rush, organised by Each, including Mr Howlett, who is a farmer on the family farm at Pentney near King’s Lynn, and their sons Ben, now 10, and James, 6.  

This will add to the family’s previous efforts to support the charity by organising coffee mornings and other charity events.  

Each’s foam-filled Norwich Bubble Rush - a course featuring four bubble stations along a 2.5km route - is taking place at the Norfolk Showground on July 16.  

Each bubble station has a cannon which pumps out coloured foam to create a 4ft-deep bubble bath. 

• Visit https://eastangliaschildrenshospices.enthuse.com/pf/rebekah-howlett to sponsor the Howlett family. 
• Visit https://www.each.org.uk/event_cat/each-events/ for more details of Each's events for 2023.

The Howlett family in 2019 - Picture: East Anglia Children's Hospice (Image: Each)