Jason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie airs a new episode tonight Thursday 30 March 2023 on ITV.
Actor Jason Watkins and his wife Clara Francis share the heartbreaking tale of the loss of their young daughter Maudie, who passed away unexpectedly on New Year’s Day, 2011.
Severe sepsis, in which the body’s immune system goes into overload in response to an infection and begins attacking the body’s tissues and organs, was the cause of Maudie’s death.
Since then, Jason and Clara have made it their goal to help other parents who have suffered a similar loss by spreading information about sepsis.
Now that they are packing up to leave the apartment where Maudie was born and died, the family feels ready to talk about what happened and work through their sorrow.
In an effort to break taboos around talking about child bereavement, the couple allows cameras to track their personal journey as they participate in therapy together for the first time and meet other parents who have lost children.
Jason says: “I do feel apprehensive, I do think it’s a delicate thing and I think, ‘Are we doing the right thing?’ But it does feel something to be shared and it can help us and other people.”
Clara adds: “It’s about breaking down the taboo of child loss. It’s so grim and unspeakable, people don’t know what to say. People don’t know how to act around you, but, also, I want to talk about Maudie and people will know that she’s here.”
In this intimate and moving documentary, Jason and Clara recount the time between Maudie’s illness and their discovery of her death.
Jason discusses the inquest, the time the family learned Maude had perished from sepsis, and their efforts to educate the public about the disease ever since.
Jason goes to King’s College Hospital in London to meet Professor Akash Deep, who is leading an innovative training initiative to educate medical professionals to recognise the symptoms of sepsis.
In the film, Clara recalls the days after Maude’s death, when she was unable to confront packing up her belongings and a friend offered to do so for her.
The pair also shares that Clara has completed training to lead sessions at a support group for parents who have lost a child.
In addition, Jason makes up with two fathers who reached out to him online after experiencing the same tragedy of losing a daughter to sepsis.
Jason says: “Maude’s loss can save lives. Sharing her story and what happened and our story, that we offer hope for families, for parent’s that have lost children, that’s what I want Maude’s memory to do.”
Airdate: Thursday 30 March 2023 at 9.00pm on ITV.
Featured Image Credit: ITV
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