The Heartbreaking Story Behind This Photo of Baby Clothing

Mum shares a photograph of a pile of baby boy clothes she wants to donate. Sadly there is a very heartbreaking back story.

Baby Riley Hughes was just 32 days old when he died as a result of whooping cough.

Perth mother Catherine Hughes posted the photo of her baby boy’s clothes to the Light for Riley Facebook page, where she promotes the need to vaccinate children against preventable diseases.

‘I’m looking for somewhere/someone to donate these baby boys clothes to,’ she wrote.

‘I can’t keep them forever and I’d rather they get some use other than sitting in a box for years. Most are hardly worn, many still have tags,’ she added.

‘I thought about giving them to friends but thought I might feel strange if I saw their babies in them. I have held onto a few that I can’t bear to part with.’

Riley’s father, Greg Hughes added a heartfelt comment to the post.

‘If you ever want to know what the pain associated with a vaccine preventable disease looks like – this is it,’ he said.

‘I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been through this box of clothes and had to turn away before I started sobbing into the box.’

‘My heart hurts seeing all these things laid out in picture form, but I hope they see the same love that my son would’ve seen had he been given the opportunity to wear them. Miss you Rileybear – Dad.’

Riley’s family have been fighting for more awareness since they lost their baby boy.

Such a heartbreaking thing to have to do. Thinking of Greg and Catherine x

Share your comments below.

15 Comments

- - ChiWren, QLD said
  - 01 Nov 2024
    7:56 am
I can’t begin to imagine the heartbreak. I hope Riley’s parents were able to raise awareness and feel a small positive in this terrible circumstance.

- - tessie, QLD said
  - 26 Feb 2018
    9:53 am
My deepest sympathy to Catherine and Greg on the loss of Riley.

- - sars_angelchik, QLD said
  - 14 Feb 2018
    3:15 pm
That’s so horrible- I really can’t understand why there are still people out there who are against vaccinating. I got the whooping cough vaccine when I was pregnant just to be sure that the antibodies would be passed on to my child.

- - ella12, QLD said
  - 13 Feb 2018
    2:33 pm
My heart goes out to the family.

- - mom19782016, QLD said
  - 11 Feb 2018
    8:33 am
Such a sad backstory. I’m so sorry Riley didn’t have longer here with his parents.

- - youngoldlady, QLD said
  - 09 Feb 2018
    10:02 pm
There will be some lucky person/s that will benefit from these clothes. My oldest clothes came from his god mother who was given the clothes from parents with a Sids baby. Each time my son wore them I would remember the parents who not only helped out a struggling mum but lost their child in doing so. I was able to cancel a layby for nappies and clothing for for my son giving me some money , something great before they had baby bonus.

- - june11, QLD said
  - 09 Feb 2018
    4:12 pm
I am sure there is some charity organisations that would be grateful to have them. They could then be distributed to those who genuinely need them. Some organisations have lists of items they use amd pass them on to them if they won’t be able to use them theirselves. I know of a Private School that accepts and sorts out the items donated and takes them to the ones with those items on their list. Places like Ronald MacDonald House sometimes have peoplw arrive for emergency accomodation when a family member is rushed to hospital with no chance of packing clothing, toys or toiletries. Some hospitals have emergency packs made up by groups or individuals and donated, both for adults and children

- - nadine_hill, QLD said
  - 09 Feb 2018
    2:21 pm
A very poignant picture knowing the heartbreak behind it x

- - mom93821, QLD said
  - 09 Feb 2018
    8:34 am
So heartbreaking and the pain and grief must be unbearable.

- - Ellen, QLD said
  - 09 Feb 2018
    7:51 am
Very sad ! I can imagine they seek to please someone else with these clothes as even seeing these clothes will be very hard. Bless them !

- - mom101628, QLD said
  - 08 Feb 2018
    11:01 pm
Such a tragic tale – and it should never have happened.

- - mom81879, QLD said
  - 08 Feb 2018
    8:13 pm
Such a tragic tale. How brave of the family becoming spokes people for immunising your babies. Terrible how the trolls have targeted them and attacked them

- - mom90758, QLD said
  - 08 Feb 2018
    5:46 pm
Their story is so sad and that image surely says a lot. They will find someone that will love Riley’s clothes. Poor little one. 🙁

- - ashna9, QLD said
  - 08 Feb 2018
    5:40 pm
This is so sad. How nice that they want to help another family though.

- - BellaB, QLD said
  - 08 Feb 2018
    2:27 pm
It was devastating to give away my dead baby’s clothes, even though I knew it was the right thing to do.