Some stories stay with you because they touch the deepest fears of any parent. That is how Amelia and Luke describe the night they lost their baby boy, Theo — a night that should have ended with joy but instead brought heartbreak.

Amelia arrived at King’s Mill Hospital in severe pain, passing blood, and desperate for help. But despite being the only patient in triage, she waited nearly 40 minutes before anyone checked on her. During that time, midwives were heard chatting about snacks and pay, unaware of the crisis unfolding just steps away.

When staff finally assessed her, they found Theo’s heartbeat dangerously slow. Doctors rushed to deliver him by an emergency caesarean, but vital moments had already been lost. After birth, more delays followed when essential resuscitation equipment couldn’t be found.

Theo was transferred to a specialist unit, but his condition continued to decline. He passed away the next day in his parents’ arms. A post-mortem revealed he suffered a severe brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen.

The inquest concluded that neglect contributed to Theo’s death and that he likely would have survived with prompt care. Amelia and Luke now hope their story forces changes in maternity safety, so no other family faces a similar loss.

Their grief is still raw, but they are determined to speak up. Amelia plans to train as a midwife, hoping to honor Theo by helping other mothers receive the urgent care she never did. And in her words, all they want now is to prevent another family from living this same heartbreak.