THE LOSS of their baby son left a gaping hole in their lives.

When little Louis Detoeuf was born sleeping on October 10 2015 Grace and Anthony Detoeuf were plunged into grief at a time when they should have been celebrating the birth of a new life.

The couple, from Bradford, will never forget their first-born, but the arrival of his little brother, Ruben, five weeks ago, has given them the opportunity to look forward to a more positive future.

Their journey to parenthood hasn't been easy. Following the devastating loss of Louis, Grace fell pregnant again in March 2016 and while early scans were positive, during the 12 week scan the couple were forced to re-live their worst nightmare when they discovered there was no heartbeat.

Around the same time Grace also lost two family members, one to cancer and the other to dementia. Within six months she had lost two babies and two people close to her.

Yet, despite her devastation and the huge sense of loss, she put all her energy into helping others. Grace began organising a charity ball to raise money for stillbirth charities.

Held at the Coniston Hotel, Skipton, in February, the ball raised a staggering £12,600 for Aidan's Elephants - a charity she discovered through the memory boxes they provide at Airedale Hospital.

"You have to look at the positive aspect. Everyone was really excited to help; family, friends. It is something I felt there was a need for and I wanted Louis to have a legacy and a positive one."

The total amount they raised exceeded their expectations and Grace says she cannot thank the supporters enough.

Fundraising, along with her involvement with the Sunbeam Support Group for other parents who have suffered the loss of a baby, has given Grace another focus as well as the opportunity to help those in similar circumstances.

She was eager to ensure parents who were bereaved had access to a support network locally. As well as being the main contact for the group, Grace also runs its social media.

She says people have different coping mechanisms - hers was raising awareness, letting parents know that they are not alone.

“From my own experience I didn’t want it to happen to anyone else. It is the most horrific thing anybody can deal with, losing a child, and part of it was to raise awareness."

Discovering the support of charities, such as Tommy’s, online gave her and her family immense support, and getting involved with them is helping her to give something back.

“All the charities have been a support in some way and just to be able to go online and reading something that gives you comfort and to know you are not alone,” adds Grace.

Inspired by his wife and the way she coped with their devastating ordeal, Anthony nominated Grace for the Tommy's national courage award.

They were over the moon when Grace won and little Ruben was their to share in the celebrations when his Mum collected her glass trophy from celebrity mum, Giovanna Fletcher, at a special ceremony at the Landmark Hotel in London.

"I couldn't believe it. It was such a life affirming event to meet other families and companies wanting to make change and support Tommy's," says Grace, referring to companies such as Asda and Bert's Bees who attended the awards.

"It was just amazing to meet all the different people and they were all there to raise awareness as well and to raise the profile of miscarriage and still birth and pregnancy loss."

And Grace credits her husband, Anthony too for nominating her. "I was really shocked and really humbled," she says.

"He is amazing, he is my rock, he is my best friend as well as my husband.

And Anthony couldn't have been any more proud when he watched his wife collect her award. "I was super proud, really proud of her because she does deserve it. She has been through an awful lot in a short period of time. She has to deal with her own grief and carry on and live alongside what has happened but she has dedicated so much time to wanting to help other people in similar situations.

"It is humbling, she is that sort of person to put others first. She has gone out of her way to make sure other people have the support."

Now in its 22nd year, the Tommy’s Awards recognises heroes of families who have been touched by pregnancy complications, or the loss of a baby.

Each year in the UK, one in four parents lose a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. Every year 60,000 babies are born prematurely.

The Tommy’s Awards also recognise the best family-friendly companies, who are nominated and voted for by the public, in categories ranging from Best Holiday Provider to Best Skincare Product for Mums.

Danae Leaman-Hill, Director of Fundraising for Tommy’s commented “The Tommy’s awards is a proud moment in the calendar for Tommy’s. It gives us the opportunity to reward the families who have triumphed over adversity. Grace is a shining example of this creating a legacy for Louis by fundraising and raising awareness about stillbirth and baby loss. She's an inspiration for many."

Now the couple are enjoying spending precious time with their new arrival.

"He is an amazing little brother for Louis and we are looking forward to the future now and what the future brings," says Anthony.

For more information about the charity, Tommy's visit tommys.org.