Kym Marsh has shared a poignant tribute to her late son Archie on what would have been his seventeenth birthday. The actress, now 49, commemorated the anniversary of her son's stillbirth, which occurred twenty-one weeks into her pregnancy back in February 2009.
A Mother's Enduring Grief
In a heartfelt social media post, Kym reflected on the profound loss that has shaped her life for nearly two decades. She shared photographs of carefully preserved mementos including a framed ultrasound image alongside a lit candle, creating a sacred space of remembrance for the son she never got to raise.
'Seventeen years without you. Seventeen years of missing you. Seventeen years of pain that never subsides. My son. My beautiful boy,' she wrote in her emotional caption.
The Unanswered Questions
The former Coronation Street star revealed how each anniversary brings the same wondering thoughts about what might have been. 'I wonder what you would have been doing on this birthday and how we would be celebrating? I wish we could,' she shared, adding that Archie remains 'forever the missing piece of my heart.'
Kym explained that despite the passage of time, finding new words to express her grief remains challenging. 'Every year I try to think of something new to write, but I just come back to the same thing. We miss you,' she confessed.
Family Support and Public Response
The tribute resonated deeply with fellow celebrities who have experienced similar losses. Myleene Klass, who has publicly discussed her multiple miscarriages, responded with supportive emojis, while former co-star Helen Flanagan shared heart symbols in solidarity.
Actress Lisa Faulkner offered comforting words, writing: 'Beautiful words my darling. That loss never leaves you. All of my love to you angel x.'
Breaking the Silence Around Child Loss
Kym has become an outspoken advocate for discussing pregnancy and infant loss, having previously revealed the isolation she felt following Archie's death. In an interview with OK! magazine, she explained her initial reluctance to discuss the tragedy.
'Initially I didn't want to talk about it at all. Part of me felt if I didn't talk about it, then it wasn't real,' she admitted. 'But talking about Archie has helped me and that's why I try to encourage people to talk as much as possible.'
The actress highlighted the persistent stigma surrounding conversations about deceased children. 'There's still a huge taboo around the subject because nobody wants to talk about a baby who has died – it makes people uncomfortable,' she revealed. 'It can be a very lonely place. Certainly for me as a mother, I felt very alone and quite isolated.'
Keeping Archie's Memory Alive
Despite the pain, Kym has made Archie an integral part of her family's daily life. Her fourteen-year-old daughter Polly, from her relationship with ex-husband Jamie Lomas, has grown up knowing about her older brother.
'Polly has only ever known him as her big brother and she'll often say, "I wish he was here, he'd stick up for me!" And I tell her, "Yes, of course he would,"' Kym shared.
Even her older children David, 29, and Emilie, 28, who now have children of their own, ensure their youngsters understand Archie's significance in the family. 'My grandchildren talk about him – they know who Archie is and what a significant part of our family he is,' she explained.
Finding Comfort in Family Connections
In her tribute, Kym expressed comfort knowing that Archie is now accompanied by her father David, who passed away in January 2023 after battling cancer. 'I know grandad moustache will be with you. Give him a big kiss and cuddle for us,' she wrote affectionately.
The actress occasionally allows herself to imagine what Archie might have been like as a teenager. 'I sometimes think about the boy Archie would have been, quipping that he would likely have been a "terror" and "15 years old and giving me a nightmare!"' she shared in previous interviews.
She believes he would have resembled his sister Polly, but emphasizes that regardless of what he might have become, 'he is very, very loved.' The family continues to celebrate Archie's brief existence and the precious moments they had together, ensuring his memory remains vibrant across generations.
