Laura Wrighton

I'm taking part in the TCS London Marathon 2027 with #TeamStroke for my baby boy, Harlan 🩵

My baby boy, Harlan, who suffers from left cerebral hemisphere damage due to a perinatal stroke whilst in utero. 

He was born on 23rd February 2026 (the same birthday as his late Great Grandad who also suffered a stroke at his 80th birthday party). 

During my pregnancy, my partner and I received the devastating news at 35 weeks that our unborn baby boy had suffered a perinatal stroke. From that point on, everything changed & what should have been the final weeks of excitement became filled with fear, uncertainty and the most unimaginable decisions. 

We were faced with conversations no expectant parents should ever have to prepare for; from discussions around termination to the most severe possible outcomes & what our son’s future might look like. 

It was an incredibly isolating and overwhelming time. Visiting the specialist fetal medicine unit at Leeds General Infirmary was never something I knew existed, let alone expected to be there.

Among the many difficult & negative moments, one (& only one!) doctor stood out. She gave us something we desperately needed: hope. She reminded us that our little boy may well defy all expectations and that outcomes are not always as certain as they seem & that hope has stayed with us.

No parent should have to experience the emotional turmoil that comes with such a diagnosis. The fear of the unknown, the grief of the future you imagined for your child (& his big brother) and the strength it takes to keep going. 

Stroke is often associated with older adults, but our experience has shown us that it can happen before life has even begun. It is devastating at any age and there is still so much that people don’t realise about its impact on babies and their families.

That is why supporting the Stroke Association means so much to me. As our son grows, we know that challenges may evolve and being able to have access to support, guidance and a community that understand what we’ve been and are going through will be invaluable. 

I want to begin giving back from the very start… not only for my son, but for other families who may find themselves facing the same frightening journey that we did. 

By April 2027, I will be just over a year postpartum and standing on the start line of the London Marathon will be more than a comeback; it will be a testament & a promise to my gorgeous little boy, Harlan… that I will keep showing up and fighting alongside him every step of the way.

I want to raise awareness that strokes can happen at any age which is something so many people have been shocked to learn, especially that it can affect an unborn child and I want to help ensure that more families receive the support they need, when they need it most.