In 2017, James and Sarah’s first son, Kit died at 13 days after being born
healthy and contracting a virus in hospital. He was misdiagnosed until it was too late.
The virus was HSV1 – the cold sore virus; relatively innocuous in adults and carried by an estimated 70% of the population. The disease is preventable and treatable – and Kit had classic symptoms.
Sarah and James went on to found Kit Tarka Foundation to raise awareness and prevent baby deaths through research and education.
Kit Tarka Foundation's work is now continued by The Lullaby Trust.
Please support them if you can – and do your best to be informed and keep babies safe. 50% of the proceeds from the sale of this track here will be donated to Lullaby Trust and you can pay extra to support them if you wish.
www.lullabytrust.org.uk
Illustration and Animation by Siân Allen
www.sianallen.co.uk
James:
This song was written for our reunion gig – Kitfest - The one day festival I arranged for the anniversary weekend that should have been our son Kit’s 1st birthday. Our band and quite a few others – most of them much bigger than us – played for free to raise funds and awareness of the dangers neonatal HSV.
The idea comes from the nurse who told us when we left the hospital for the last time without Kit that we must stick together like glue. I wasn’t sure how I would approach songwriting after all that happened, but in the end it all started to come out right away. I am very grateful to Jim for letting me pour it out on his song.
Thank also to Jen Left who sings to give my wife voice here. She has been a huge supporter to KTF and is an amazing pillar to her community. And what a voice.
released August 8, 2023
Guitar: Jim Briffett
Cello: Will Calderbank
Double Bass: Rhys Lovell
Drums: Martin Deering
Violin: Mike Siddell
Vocals: James de Malplaquet
Guest Vocals: Jennifer Left
Production: The Miserable Rich & Wolfgang Gottlieb