Former Ludlow resident Andrea Ford, tackles marathon (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Former Ludlow resident Andrea Ford, tackles marathon

9:55am Thursday 12th April 2012 in Ludlow

WHEN Andrea Ford crosses the line at the end of the London Marathon, it will mark the latest milestone in a journey that started in tragedy.

Andie, as she is known, has turned her own misfortune into the inspiration to help a charity that supports women through a loss that is more common than generally appreciated.

In 2008 the lives of Andie, who originates from Clee Hill and is a former Ludlow resident, and husband Adrian were turned upside down when the joy of a pregnancy turned into the tragedy of miscarriage.

But the couple, who now live in Cleobury, had a double dose of tragedy because Andie had not just the one but two miscarriages within months of each other in the same year.

“The first time, as far as we knew, everything was okay but when I went for the first scan at 13 weeks they discovered that our baby had died,”

said Andie, aged 38.

It was while she was in hospital that Andie was given a leaflet from the Miscarriage Association. Within a very short time, Andie had become pregnant again.

“There were none of the signs that people usually associate with miscarriage but I just had a feeling that something was wrong,” said Andie.

Another scan proved her instinct was sadly accurate and her baby had died.

Both babies had died in the early weeks of pregnancy and are known as ‘silent’ miscarriages without the normal signs.

“It is believed that a miscarriage is a very bloody and messy business but this is not always the case,” said Andie.

“Miscarriage is something that it is believed can occur in up to one in four pregnancies but often it happens so early that the woman does not know.”

Andie has never forgotten the support that she received from the Miscarriage Association. “There was advice on how the cope with the despair, grief and confusion,”

she said.

Andie, who used to work at Ludlow’s leisure centre, has already raised £800 for the association and is well on the way towards her £1,500 target from the London Marathon.

With many miscarriages, including Andie’s, no one knows why they occur but women can go on to have a successful pregnancy.

Happily, this has been the case with Andie who is now the proud mum of two healthy little girls India-Rose, who is two-and-a-half, and Lilia, aged 13 months.

“The pregnancies were terrifying but the doctors were very good and when I was expecting India-Rose I was given scans every two or three weeks,” said Andie.

Anyone who wants to sponsor Andie can visit uk.virginmoneygiving.

com/Andrea Ford1 where they can donate to the Miscarriage Association.

Right: Andie Ford with her daughters India-Rose and Lilia.

121575-005.