The death of their infant daughter has prompted Chris and Lorraine Braiden to start an appeal to save other babies. Here the couple tell CLARE KENNEDY their moving story...

THE little squeal baby Lauren made when she was born delighted her parents. It was to be her first and last proper cry.

For Chris and Lorraine never got to take their baby girl home. After being born prematurely with under-developed lungs and cystic fibrosis little Lauren died aged just three months old.

She spent most of her short life being cared for by staff at the neonatal intensive care unit at Southampton's Princess Anne Hospital.

Throughout, Chris and Lorraine Braiden never gave up hope their girl might survive, despite the odds.

However, when every medication had been tried and failed, and powerful steroids no longer worked, Lauren's condition began to get worse.

Chris and Lorraine, both 28, knew then that every day with Lauren was precious.

Her weak immune system made it impossible to fight off the deadly infections that eventually killed her.

Now Chris and Lorraine want to repay those who helped them be a part of Lauren's life in the best way possible - by offering future sick babies a chance of life.

The couple, who have two other children, Jessica, 5, and Kieran, 3, have launched The Lauren Hope Appeal Fund to raise £15,000 for two infant ventilators; one for the Princess Anne Hospital and one for London's King's College Hospital.

"We really want to give something back to The Princess Anne Hospital. They provided us with so much. We could stay all night and all day just like a proper family. We could be together," said Chris.

"We will always be grateful for how much help and support we were given," said Lorraine.

Lauren's health problems emerged during an eight-week scan before she was born.

Doctors discovered her lungs had not developed properly. She was also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. At the same time both her parents learned they carried the faulty gene causing the illness.

"We were shell-shocked. We really did not know what the chances of her surviving, let alone being born were," said Lorraine, a housewife.

"I got a phone call at work and went straight to Southampton to be with Lorraine," recalls Chris, who works as a factory machine operator.

In the weeks leading up to the birth Lorraine had three fetal chest drains implanted in Lauren's chest. These were used to drain fluid from the cavity in which Lauren's lungs were meant to form.

Shortly before Lauren's birth by caesarean section at 34 weeks the neonatal unit's doctors and nurses provided unstinting support helping Lorraine through the final most difficult and painful part of her pregnancy.

Weighing just 4Ib and 3oz, Lauren was placed in an infant incubator and put on an infant ventilator - like the one her parents are hoping to buy for the neonatal intensive care unit.

Just eight days later following treatment, she was well enough to come out of the incubator and be hugged. She slept in a normal cot while receiving oxygen through her nose.

Days later when X-rays showed Lauren did not have a gall bladder and she started developing jaundice she was taken to London's King's College for specialist tests.

"There her condition really started to deteriorate, and after five weeks the doctors said it might be better to go back to Southampton to be near our family and friends," recalled Chris.

Lauren died on October 30 last year but her memory lives on. Lorraine said: "Some of the nurses suggested that we make hand and footprints to remember Lauren. We took photos and recorded video footage of her."

A treasured memory box at the Havant home of Lorraine and Chris is a constant reminder of their little girl.

With a photo of Lauren adorning the wall of their living-room she still has the power to bring so much joy to her parents.

If their appeal is successful, Chris and Lorraine can take some comfort in knowing that their efforts could help save the lives of other sick babies.

The neonatal intensive care unit's senior sister Carolyn Colasanti was delighted with the Braiden's appeal.

She added: "A ventilator is an essential piece of equipment needed in the neonatal intensive care unit.

"Without such equipment very premature and very sick babies would not be able to survive."

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Chris and Lorraine are kick-starting their fundraising appeal with a tandem skydive. Daring Lorraine will be taking the plunge 13,000ft over Salisbury on July 14.

If you would like to sponsor her, or would like to organise fundraising events of your own, or make a donation, can do so by calling the Braidens on 023 9236 3350 or writing to them at 28, Thruxton Road, Leigh Park, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 4DG.

Cheques should be made payable to The Lauren Hope Appeal Fund.

CYSTIC FIBROSIS: THE FACTS

1) Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common inherited life-threatening disease with some 7,000 affected children and adults.

2) Every week three children and young people die from CF, usually as a result of lung damage.

3) People with CF produce very thick sticky mucus, which clogs their lungs and digestive systems making it difficult to breathe and absorb food properly.

4) Treatment for CF includes physiotherapy to help clear mucus from the lungs, enzyme supplements with food to help digestion and antibiotics to fight infections.

5) Some two million people in the UK carry the faulty CF gene but show no symptoms - about one person in 25 of the population.