Taylor Bowers, 10, pens book about loss after death of cousin

Taylor Bowers wrote Wynter's Wish to help her family feel better and the book has since inspired a new baby loss and bereavement support charity.

The book is about Wynter Andrews who died in 2019 at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre as a result of a lack of oxygen to the brain caused by infection and problems during labour. A coroner ruled a year later that her death was a result of "obvious neglect" and "repeated failures" by responsible staff.

Her parents, Gary and Sarah live in Wantage.

Taylor, who lives in Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon, with her mother Jodie Andrews, said: "It's about Wynter and she feels sad so she draws a unicorn and makes a wish that it was real.

Taylor, 10, wanted to help her family feel better.

“The unicorn comes to life and gives her three wishes. Her first wish was to ride down a rainbow, the second was to see where unicorns lived and the third was to stay with the unicorn in the sky so she could look after Gary and Sarah.

“I wrote it because I was very, very upset and I wanted to make other people feel better so I thought if I did something they like it will make them feel happy.

The book is named after Wynter

“I read it at Wynter’s funeral which was hard but it made everybody feel better and I wanted to help other people who were struggling with baby loss.”

Mr and Mrs Andrews then decided to publish the book to help other bereaved families. Mr Andrews said: “It was a very dark time in our lives and when Taylor read the book Sarah and I were in floods of tears because of the relationship with the stars and thinking she was up there.

“One of my memories of Wynter was holding her in a bereavement garden and looking up at the stars and I saw the constellation of Cassiopeia which is the shape of a ‘W’.

Gary and Sarah Roberts with Wynter.

“So when Taylor wrote that story about the idea of people going up to the stars, it made sense.

“The message is that she’s looking down on her family but it’s still a magical adventure story suitable for all ages.”

The couple, who had their rainbow baby called Bowie in August 2021, then decided to start a charity of the same name to help other bereaved families by providing them support and comfort items such as the book.

Wynter wishes to stay with the unicorn in the sky to look over her parents.

Taylor said: “I was very happy that I could achieve this for other people and my family. I feel relieved and very proud of myself.

“I would love to do that again as I’m trying to help people more. I feel so proud of myself for doing this and I’m really proud of Gary and Sarah.”

Sarah with her rainbow baby Bowie at Wynter's resting place.

For more information, visit: wynterswish.co.uk