A COUPLE who went through the heartbreak of losing one of their twin daughters in utero have taken on an emotional fundraiser to thank a hospital and its staff.

Lorien and Chris Nash, from Burnham, led around 25 friends and family on a 20-mile walk on Sunday last week in aid of the Wexham Park Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) after staff at the unit saved the life of their seven-month-old daughter Lea last year.

Lea was born six weeks premature, weighing just 5lb 4oz, in tragic circumstances.

Mrs Nash, 29, had gone for a routine scan in early September last year – a day after the couple completed the purchase of a new house bought specifically for their bigger family with twins expected.

She was given the devastating news that a heartbeat could not be found for the smaller of the two babies, Cerys.

An emergency Caesarean followed to save Lea. As she was so premature, her lungs had not fully developed so she required breathing assistance via a ventilator while also battling the effects of Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), which had caused Cerys’s death.

After 17 days of intensive treatment, the Nash family finally received the good news she was pulling through.

Lea is now completely healthy and went on Sunday’s walk in memory of her sister.

The walk from the offices of Ealing Council – where Mr and Mrs Nash work – to Wexham Park Hospital was to say thank you to hospital staff for all of their hard work.

The £5,000 fundraising target has already been smashed by more than £700.

Mrs Nash said: “It was quite emotional – we were close to tears a few times, but were so overwhelmed and humbled that so many people had come out to support us and taken the time out for us.

“It brought back memories of the last time we were at the hospital, when we were losing our baby girl, but we just wanted to do something positive for the people who saved our daughter’s life and made me a mother and Chris a father.” Donations can still be made at www.justgiving.com/wexhamwalk