Plymouth couple navigates first Mother’s Day since losing infant son

While Mother’s Day is a day for celebration, it can be a painful time for many reasons.

A Plymouth couple is navigating the first Mother’s Day without their son, Callum, who died in November. 

“He was a super happy-go-lucky, smiley baby. He touched a lot of people in a short time,” said Eli Duncan, Callum’s dad.

Baby Callum was Lindsay and Eli Duncan’s world. Their son was the start of their family.

“He was smiley and he was starting to get those belly giggles,” Lindsay Duncan said.

Last November, their world stopped.

Lindsay Duncan said she was at work when she got the worst call of her life. Their 6-month-old baby stopped breathing while taking a nap at day care.

“I just got a call saying, ‘Your son stopped breathing.’ I just remember my heart dropping and the rest of the day was pretty much a blur,” she said.

Callum was born seven weeks early, resulting in a higher risk for health complications.

“We held him for three hours after that in a room. We thought, ‘It can’t be true,’” Eli Duncan said.

Lindsay Duncan said Mother’s Day brings back these painful memories.

But next year, Mother’s Day will be different.

“I unfortunately can’t carry another baby because when he was born, I had to have a hysterectomy,” Lindsay Duncan said. “We’ve been going through a surrogacy process and have found someone to carry our next baby. That’s super exciting, and that’s given us a lot of hope for the future.”

The Duncans are expecting a baby boy.

“It helps us knowing that we get a little one back hopefully soon and can continue on with our family,” Eli Duncan said.

The family said Callum will never be forgotten.

“He will always be remembered and will always be our first,” Lindsay Duncan said.

The Duncans explained they’re in the process of starting the Fly High Foundation to honor the life of their son. Their goal is to support families who are dealing with the loss of a baby to help them move forward.