“Christmas still hurts”: Boston Grandma urges baby-loss support this winter
After losing her granddaughter Lottie, Caroline now supports other bereaved families through charity Sands
A Boston grandmother is encouraging anyone in Lincolnshire affected by baby loss to reach out for support this Christmas, saying the festive season can be one of the hardest times of the year.
Caroline Knowles’s granddaughter Lottie was stillborn in 2015 - a loss she says changed her family forever.
“It was a devastating time for our family,” Caroline said. “You don’t just ‘move on’ - you grow around the grief.”
Two years after Lottie’s death, Caroline contacted her local Sands group in East Lincolnshire.
The support she received was so meaningful that she later trained as a befriender, helping other families - particularly grandparents - navigate their own loss.
“That connection meant so much,” she said. “Christmas can be incredibly difficult, and having someone who understands really helps.”
Caroline continues to honour Lottie each year with a small polar bear ornament on the Christmas tree, knitting a new scarf for it annually - a gentle tradition that keeps her granddaughter’s memory close.
Sands says milestones like Christmas often reopen grief, even many years later, and wants people to know they don’t have to face it alone.
The charity’s national helpline remains open over the festive period on 0808 164 3332.