In Tammi’s Memory: Sylvia, Fei & Family Run the Altra Yorkshire Marathon to Support Families Through Loss

Sylvia and her husband, Fei, were overjoyed when they discovered they were expecting their first child. From the very beginning, they loved their daughter deeply, imagining the life they would share together – her first steps, her first ice cream, her first day at school, and the person she would grow to become.

At 24 weeks pregnant, while visiting family, Sylvia went into premature labour. In that moment, their worst fears became reality. As a pediatrician, it was something that Sylvia had seen before, but she had never imagined finding herself on the other side of that experience.

From the very first breath, their daughter showed remarkable determination. Sylvia recalls, ‘From her very first breath, Tammi showed us incredible strength and resilience.’

They named her 安英 (Anying), a Chinese name that reflected their hopes for her – courage, strength, and peace.

Sylvia later described the time they spent in hospital with Tammi: “I cannot describe the feeling of having your heart in the incubator with your baby every moment, clinging on to the hope that she would come home with us.”

Tammi continued to fight, inspiring everyone around her. But after six precious days, she passed away peacefully in Sylvia and Fei’s arms. In their final moments together, they held her close in the hospital’s memorial garden. Sylvia remembers the gentle birdsong and the warmth of the setting sun as they said goodbye to their daughter.

Reflecting on that moment, Sylvia said, ‘we memorised every tiny detail – her beautiful face, her tiny fingers, the warmth of her skin, the beat of her delicate, fluttering heart. We wished time would stop right there and then.’

‘Losing her has been the greatest heartbreak of our lives,’ they shared. ‘We miss her every single day.’

Although Tammi’s life was heartbreakingly short, her impact was profound. She changed Sylvia and Fei’s lives forever, teaching them the true meaning of unconditional love, courage, and resilience. Not a day passes when they do not think of her.

In Tammi’s memory, Sylvia and Fei, alongside their family, will be running the Altra Yorkshire Marathon to raise funds for Sheffield Hospitals Charity. Their hope is to support the neonatal and bereavement services that cared for them during the most difficult days of their lives.

Sylvia described the support they received as extraordinary. Despite being far from home, the charity enabled them to remain close to Tammi throughout her life. The bereavement suite and memorial garden gave the priceless gift of spending meaningful final moments together as a family.

Through their fundraising, Sylvia and Fei hope to ensure that other parents facing unimaginable loss receive the same compassion, comfort, and support they experienced – because no family should have to walk this path alone.

To support Sylvia and Fei, click here: