A BARRY community has begun to rally after a young mum’s baby daughter tragically died soon after birth- leaving her parents with unexpected funeral costs.

Lizzy Morrison and her partner Lloyd Morri, 20, of Merthyr Street, Barry, have been left devastated following the death of their daughter Layla Marie – who died 22 minutes after she was born – at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales on August, 23.

Instead of experiencing the joy of bringing their 8lb 13oz baby home, the young couple have been faced with the unplanned-for financial burden of giving their loved, precious child the fitting funeral she deserved on September 4.

Kind-hearted Castleland residents, family and friends have begun the task of conveying their love and support by organising a series of fundraising events and activities in memory of the new-born girl.

Mum of four-year-old Taya Magrin, Lizzy said she had gone into hospital at 3am, and while in labour Layla’s oxygen supply was starved by the umbilical cord. Lizzy was put under general anaesthetic and taken for an emergency caesarean only to wake up for Lloyd to tell her their baby had died.

Lizzy, 23, said: “She was born with a tiny heartbeat. She was alive for 22 minutes, but they couldn’t save her. My boyfriend broke it to me. He told me the baby didn’t make it. I didn’t believe it. They told me what had happened to her and they let me spend five days with her in hospital in a nice room. She was in a Moses basket which kept her body cool. It was really nice. While I was in hospital I started a fundraising page to keep my mind occupied and I had hundreds of people messaging me. I still can’t believe it now. She grew in my womb and she grew in my heart.”

She added: “I feel for anyone who has got to go through this. I am sure they want to give the person the best send off they can, but they haven’t got the money. Everyone has just jumped in. I took Taya up to the cemetery and said: “We are going to see Layla now and she’s sleeping in the ground playing with the stars” and Taya said: “Can she come down and play with me?” Me and Lloyd sent balloons up in the sky with a letter attached – like a letter to Heaven. I go to bed at night and wake up in the morning and hope it’s just been a dream.

“I would like to thank everyone who’s been involved in helping and donating. They have kept us occupied and busy.”

Residents have rallied with a bag pack at Tesco, Eddie Frayer parading as Ena Sharples of Coronation Street fame, Ian ‘Max Attack’ Paterson putting himself through painful body hair waxes, bucket collections, a coffee and cake morning and friend Jasmine Crocket-Watkins making handmade sun catchers – raising £70.

The family has so far raised around £1000 towards the £2500 target needed for Layla’s headstone and any extra associated funeral costs necessary for her Barry cemetery plot.

Lizzy’s mum Alison Morrison, 45, will raise money by having a number five haircut while Lisa Crockett, 45, will go for a full number one administered by hairdresser Gemma Farmer at the Hair & Beauty Den, on Thompson Street, at 1pm on Monday, September 22.

Family friend Lisa said she wanted to do something to help and decided to do so with something personal to a woman and have her hair shorn.

She said: “I want to raise a decent amount of money to get Layla her headstone. It’s great the community has rallied around.”

A Beauty Basics Pamper evening will also be held at The Ship, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Sunday, September 21.

Tickets, costing £10 per person, are available from the salon’s Broad Street shop.

Any contributions to Lisa’s head shave, can be taken to Silverline, on Holton Road, from 9am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday.

Alternatively, Layla’s Paypal account is: layla230814@gmail.com

Layla’s family plan to donate monies remaining, after the headstone costs have been met, to the parents’ accommodation at the UHW in Layla’s memory and in appreciation of the staff’s care and attention.