“Even though I lost Ava, I now get to help others and her memory lives on, in a way,” said Katie Allington
Katie Allington started a memorials business in memory of her daughter, Ava.(Image: Forever Ava Designs)
A Hull mum who endured the tragedy of losing her unborn baby has thrown herself into a small business which helps others in the same situation. Katie Allington, from Kirklands Road, was working at a school breakfast club and as a dinner lady, when baby Ava was stillborn only days before Christmas 2018.
Having previously lost two babies, Katie was bereft and gave up work during what she describes as probably the worst time of her life. In need of a diversion and having made some of her own earrings in the past, she tried her hand at trinket making – producing a small dish that she posted pictures of online. It received a hugely positive response, spurring Katie to do more in Ava’s memory.
Explaining the heart break of losing Ava, the 40 year-old said: “I’d got past the 20 week stage so I automatically presumed everything was going to be fine and that she’d be the rainbow baby that we’d waited for. But unfortunately, I’d gone into hospital because I hadn’t felt her much. I went in to get checked out but was a bit naive really and I just went in on my own.
“But then they told me that they couldn’t find a heartbeat. This was at nearly 28 weeks, so I had to give birth to her. It happened at Christmas so it was really tough time. Afterwards, I just really needed something to occupy my mind.”
Forever Ava Designs was started about five years ago, with Katie using sleepless nights to hone her skills. The last four years have seen her really devoted to the business which operates from a studio in her garden and a unit at Hull’s Trinity Market. Customers have flocked to her range of jewellery containing ashes, keepsakes and flower preservations in resin – with orders even coming from as far afield as America.
Katie, who has a son and daughter, added: “I had a lot people – not necessarily from around here – who came to me knowing I had experience of baby loss and they didn’t want anybody else to have the ashes. It’s just grown and grown from there.
“There are a lot of people who lose babies – and especially with miscarriages they don’t actually have anything to keep. I don’t just make jewellery with ashes but also keepsakes if they haven’t got anything they can remember them by.”
Having initially bought some jewellery with Ava’s ashes in, Katie realised how expensive the service can be and has set out to make it affordable and accessible to more people. Several days a week she can be found at Trinity Market, where she enjoys the chance to talk with customers about her products and her story.
Katie says her experience shows that it is possible to pick yourself up after tragedy, and to channel pain into a positive. She added: “Even though I lost Ava, I now get to help others and her memory lives on, in a way. They help me and I help them.”
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