And so the short and innocent life of baby Ormerod was bought to an abrupt halt. The post-mortem that quickly followed showed an undiagnosed heart condition, something that Jill was sure would have been picked up if 'The Royal' had had a specialist baby unit. She'd begged for 'The Royals' facilities to be improved for wish of not wanting to lose another child, but not for a moment had she thought a child lost would have been her own.
The day of the funeral was grim, nobody knowing how to act. Tom and Katie were distraught at the loss of a sibling they never knew. Gordon and Jill's world torn apart for a child they'd never get to see flourish within their family. They'd only spent such a small amount of time with their son but that didn't ease the pain they felt.
The funeral was nothing fancy; plain and simple. Gordon, with Jill by his side, carried the tiny coffin into the church. They were followed by their two older children, work colleagues, family and close friends. The small solid oak coffin was place at the front and everybody took their seats, most of them only there to support their dear friends. How could anybody else mourn for a child they'd never seen or held?
Gordon sat close to his wife, her head held close to his chest as she cried into his black coat. He gently rested his head on top of hers and rubbed her back. Though he felt a loss it was nothing compared to how his wife was feeling. The vicar did a short service; prayers were said and 'All Things Bright and Beautiful' sung, a fitting song for a life that could have been. And then bravely Gordon said a short speech to the congregation. It had been something Jill had yearned t do but couldn't face it, this was a grieving father's job.
'We all know why we're here, to say goodbye to our son. But we shouldn't be saying goodbye should we? No, we should be saying hello. You see, in that box in front of me is my son, my tiny son. We'd barely had chance to welcome him into the world before he was cruelly snatched away. Jonathon Ormerod was with us for such a short space of time but he'll always be in our hearts. Jill and I will never get to know him as the boy he could have been, or see him grow up into a fine young man. Instead we'll have to imagine and sit and wonder and would what he would have been like. He didn't have a personality or an identity but to us he was the most perfect baby. Jonathon probably didn't even know who I was but one thing I'm sure of is he knew who his mum was, that amazing woman over there. My wife. I'll always be a father to three children. Where ever I am Jonathon, you'll be with me.'
Gordon's words had touched everybody, many silently crying. He quickly returned to his wife's side who let out a loud wail followed by numerous sobs as her husband tried to her, but he too cried. How could two caring people deserve such a tragedy?