ABOUT

'We’re having a baby' is a powerful animation that focuses on a new mother as she hears the news all parents dread … that her child will die before her. Using inspiration from real stories the film has an emotional resonance demonstrating why families need specialist support from services like Together for Short Lives; the leading UK charity for children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions.

Produced pro bono by video marketing agency Hurricane Media, the animation aims to raise the profile and fundraising potential of Together for Short Lives, and connect emotionally with the target end-users – parents, carers and health workers.

The animation gains its authenticity from capturing the reality of those who have lived through this heart-breaking situation. The viewer empathises as the narrator’s everyday hopes and dreams for her child disappear. Hurricane MD, Jon Mowat interviewed a number of families about their experiences of receiving their child’s diagnosis and coping with the news that their child has a life-limiting condition. A common thread began to appear – from “being cast adrift” when parents heard this news, to feeling “grounded” and supported by children’s hospice and palliative care services and by calling the Together for Short Lives family helpline.

Creative Director, John Lanyon turned these experiences into a poignant, yet uplifting script vividly delivered by Bristol actor, Jessica Macdonald. Along with illustrator Katy Davis, the Hurricane team set about the task of distilling this into a short hand-drawn film.

Barbara Gelb, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives said:

“We are thrilled with the We’re having a baby animation, which was very generously produced for us free of charge by Hurricane Media. We worked very closely with their team, drawing on our experience of working with families and the children’s palliative care sector to create a moving film which tells a difficult story. A story that is often hard to put into words.

It provides a brand new way to raise awareness of the reality many families face when they hear the news that their child may not live to reach adulthood. We want families to know that they are not alone and that there are some fantastic children’s hospice and palliative care services out there.”