Northumberland MP's moving tribute following devastating loss of newborn twins

In a moving tribute, Guy Opperman, Conservative MP for Hexham, said his and his wife Flora's boys, Teddy and Rafe, died last week.

In a series of tweets, the 55-year-old shared their heartbreak as they cope with their grief adding there was ‘nothing we could do. Just a horrible tragedy.’

He said: “Teddy came and went from this world quickly and quietly. He passed peacefully. Our younger twin, Rafe, was not born until Tuesday 23, but died later that day in NeoNatal ICU.

“Baby loss, and coping with grief, is very hard.”

Adding: “The loss of our younger twin Rafe was particularly acute.

“He lived and died within a long day. But we treasure our time with him in Neonatal ICU.

“We were able to tell him of all our hopes and dreams for him, and our family; but he could not make it and died in Flora’s arms.”

His wife, Flora Coleman Opperman, has set up a Just Giving page hoping to raise £5,000 which will go towards research for preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM).

She said: “ This will hopefully prevent other families experiencing the same pain. We are vey grateful for the care we received from the NHS, and we want to ensure that the learnings from our experience are as widely accessible as possible.”

More than £3,000 has already been donated to the cause.

The family is engaging with the charity Sands, which helps families coping with the grief of losing a baby, and says they will “stablish a small fund to support research that will prevent other families experiencing the same pain”.

Sharing a picture of quote of a Buddhist concept of the nature of life and death being like a wave, Mr Opperman added: “The Wave quote is a good description of this awful process, and an acceptance of life passing.

“You never regret trying to have children. Sometimes baby loss happens. We will never forget our boys.

“They will be with us always. Just sadly only in their spirit and their memory.”

To donate to the Just Giving page click here.

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