IN July, we are finding out more about Jump, our charity of the month, which creates memory books for families with terminally ill children.

This week we meet a family who the charity has helped.

“WE knew our daughter wasn’t going to live long - instead of deciding on where she would go to nursery, I was deciding on where she would have her funeral.”

That was the desperate situation faced by Emma Wharton, and partner Paul, after doctors at Warrington Hospital told them their unborn daughter had part of her heart missing during a five month pregnancy scan.

“Doctors said I’d be lucky if she made it through pregnancy, and told me not to buy stuff for her, ” said Emma, of Maple Road, Winwick.

“She came out kicking and screaming. We’d always said if we got one minute with her, that would be enough.

“There are some parents out there that never get the chance to hold their children.”

But the young family new time was precious, after Isabella-Rose was born in 2012, due to a rare heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

After being recommended by nurses, in stepped Jump, to create a memory book, a collection of professional photos of Emma, Paul, and Isabella-Rose together.

“I was talking about having a photoshoot done because I didn’t know how much time we’d have,” said Emma, aged 26.

“The nurses got in touch with Jump, and they are amazing.

“They met us before hand and talked through everything with us.

“It was just how we wanted it. Jump call it a memory book and it was exactly that for us.”

Tragically, Isabella-Rose died five days before her first birthday, but Emma believes that is why Jump’s work is so important.

“I can look back on that day and smile, instead of being sad.

“It means the world to me.

“My daughter is not with me, but whenever I look at the pictures it takes me back to that day when I was with her.”

The couple are now left with happy memories.

Emma added: “It wasn’t a sad experience, there was something new every day.

“I’ll always remember Isabella standing up in her cot, smiling, and eating so much, because she loved her food.

“For a baby of her age, to go through that and come out smiling - she was a little ray of sunshine.”

To find out more about Jump, go to jumpchildrenscharity.co.uk.