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Sophie's Boys
When Sophie and Ash discovered they were expecting triplets, it was much more exciting than daunting. But when Sophie went into labour at only 21 weeks, their world was turned upside down. Though they fought fiercely they could not escape tragedy. Tiny Henry lived for just one cherished hour, Evan for 10 days and Jasper was with them for only 58 days.Heartbroken and back in her empty home, Sophie realised she could not allow herself to drown in her grief. On Ash's advice, she began to run. Step by step she regained some equilibrium. She became determined to turn her agony into something positive. Gathering supporters around her, she founded the Running for Premature Babies Foundation to raise money for the hospital unit that had cared for her sons. In their first Sydney half marathon, the group raised $80,000.Sophie and Ash had two more sons, Owen and Harvey, when tragedy revisited them. Ash was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer. Sophie was forced once again into a world of pain and grief, caring for her beloved husband as well as their two young boys. Together, the family faced the reality of death with courage and tenderness.When Ash passed away in 2016, Sophie once again put one foot in front of the other, and ran. Not running from her pain, but towards something useful. Her charity, the Running for Premature Babies Foundation, has now raised well in excess of $2.5 million to help the thousands of premature babies born each year.Beautifully written and disarmingly honest, Sophie's Boys is an inspiring and life-affirming tale of an irrepressible spirit, who found strength in tragedy.
- GenresNonfiction
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2018
3 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Smith
12 books1 followerSophie^^^Smith
Sophie Smith continues to manage and run for the charity she started with her partner Ash – to date the charity has raised $2.5 million, directly benefitting approximately 4000 babies, and has had over 1500 runners.
In 2017 the Running for Premature Babies Foundation began a new chapter, becoming a registered charitable foundation with a vision to provide a better chance of survival for premature babies and celebrate all prematurely born children, both living and lost. Sophie lives in Sydney.
Sophie Smith continues to manage and run for the charity she started with her partner Ash – to date the charity has raised $2.5 million, directly benefitting approximately 4000 babies, and has had over 1500 runners.
In 2017 the Running for Premature Babies Foundation began a new chapter, becoming a registered charitable foundation with a vision to provide a better chance of survival for premature babies and celebrate all prematurely born children, both living and lost. Sophie lives in Sydney.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 27, 2018
I read this book in a day. It was exquisitely written and such an incredible story of love. If you're looking for something to read that will remind you of how insanely incredible it is to be a human, read this. Even better, your purchase will help care for premature babies with life saving equipment that has already saved many thanks to Sophie's fierce love and Ash's brave legacy. The story sounds depressing but it is surprisingly not. It is sad but beautiful at the same time and ultimately poignant and powerful. Don't be afraid to read this story, it may just make you see the world a little differently.
December 14, 2023
Very well written but do not attempt to read without a box of tissues near by!
September 11, 2023
I read this book I'd found in one of those warehouse, 'end of stock' sales. What a find it was too, so glad I picked it up.
Sophie Cotton, a young English backpacker in Australia on a working visa, met a down to earth, regular Aussie bloke, Ashley Smith. They fell in love very quickly and married. When Sophie found she was pregnant, the pair was so excited but at the scan, found they were expecting triplets. Ash and Sophie were so excited and looked forward to the day they would have their little family at home.
Then at 21 weeks Sophie's waters started leaking and the doctor told her they would have to deliver the babies if they couldn't stop the leakage. There was always an outside chance that the babies would survive but it was so slim.....babies rarely survive at that age.
Sophie remained on total bedrest in hospital hardly daring to move, and week later under another scan, she could see all 3 babies still kicking away in their little bubbles, all the while willing them to stay in there and stay safe.
However, although little Henry was delivered after Sophie went into labour a week later, and the joy of becoming a mother and a father for Sophie and Ash, the joy was not to last and little Henry only managed to survive for an hour after birth. Doctors and Sophie managed to hold onto the other babies to cross the critical 24 weeks mark, and at 24 weeks and 2 days, Sophie went into labour again and the other 2 boys Jasper and Evan, had to be delivered.
It was a traumatic time for the young couple and I won't spoil the story for you because it is such a special story.
But life was to deal more heartbreak, as well as mountains of love for them.
But you need to read this beautifully written story.
Sophie started the foundation Running For Premature Babies, and each year this foundation raises much needed funds for the premmies and their desperately needed humidicribs.
Sophie Cotton, a young English backpacker in Australia on a working visa, met a down to earth, regular Aussie bloke, Ashley Smith. They fell in love very quickly and married. When Sophie found she was pregnant, the pair was so excited but at the scan, found they were expecting triplets. Ash and Sophie were so excited and looked forward to the day they would have their little family at home.
Then at 21 weeks Sophie's waters started leaking and the doctor told her they would have to deliver the babies if they couldn't stop the leakage. There was always an outside chance that the babies would survive but it was so slim.....babies rarely survive at that age.
Sophie remained on total bedrest in hospital hardly daring to move, and week later under another scan, she could see all 3 babies still kicking away in their little bubbles, all the while willing them to stay in there and stay safe.
However, although little Henry was delivered after Sophie went into labour a week later, and the joy of becoming a mother and a father for Sophie and Ash, the joy was not to last and little Henry only managed to survive for an hour after birth. Doctors and Sophie managed to hold onto the other babies to cross the critical 24 weeks mark, and at 24 weeks and 2 days, Sophie went into labour again and the other 2 boys Jasper and Evan, had to be delivered.
It was a traumatic time for the young couple and I won't spoil the story for you because it is such a special story.
But life was to deal more heartbreak, as well as mountains of love for them.
But you need to read this beautifully written story.
Sophie started the foundation Running For Premature Babies, and each year this foundation raises much needed funds for the premmies and their desperately needed humidicribs.
June 3, 2018
This is a story of an incredible woman. A woman with such inner strength, compassion for others and drive to make an immeasurable contribution to the world despite the sadness, tragedy and suffering that she has experienced. I cried reading every single page of this book. Yet the end feeling is not one of sadness but of inspiration, to embrace what we have in this world with complete love and hope and to do our very best to make a difference. Thank you Sophie for your vulnerability in sharing your story with us.
June 14, 2018
I can't remember the last time I started a book in the morning and could not begin to entertain the thought of going to bed until I had finished it! Sophie's Boys, exquisitely written by Deborah Fitzgerald, is an incredible story of great loss and even greater love. Although it had me in tears all day, Sophie's story reveals her incredible strength, resilience, empathy and generosity and I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to read it.
February 15, 2019
This book is just precious! It is so deeply saddening, but somehow also has a contagious joy about it. If you need a reminder that even the hardest experiences in life can be over come, then read this book. I'm in total awe of this lady and what she has achieved despite her suffering. This book is raw and honest, and you'll probably need tissues... but it is also wonderful, heart-warming, and inspiring.
May 18, 2018
The story is amazing. The writing is not. This memoir lacks something tangible that would have come from a first person account. Some biographies manage to do this so that it still feels like a memoir and not just a list of things that happened. Considering the source material and the clearly fascinating and resilient Sophie I think it deserved more.
April 13, 2018
This is a story about a woman who suffers incredible loss, she goes through what no mother or young wife should endure. She is inspirational in what she does to overcome her loss in order to help others. A sad story but incredibly inspirational. It’s a reminder to not sweat the small stuff.
September 30, 2025
GET THE TISSUES READY 😭😭
True story about the loss of family/life - triplets then her husband. The story is heart warming and yet so tragic in itself. The determination of loss and putting it into raising awareness and created a charity. So many tears but beautiful story.
True story about the loss of family/life - triplets then her husband. The story is heart warming and yet so tragic in itself. The determination of loss and putting it into raising awareness and created a charity. So many tears but beautiful story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2018
Beautiful, raw and tear provoking read.
June 5, 2018
3.5 stars. A moving account of the strength of the human spirit that puts things into perspective- “don’t sweat the small stuff”. Who knows what life has in store for us? I hope that faced with a similar situation I would be as strong as Sophie and Ash.
December 8, 2025
A heart wrenching story filled with grief, loss, love and a whole array of emotions.
"...even when your heart is broken, even when bad things happen, you can still pick yourself up and find happiness."
"When a baby is stillborn or dies, people don't ask. It's not because they don't want to ask --- they simply don't know it's a nice thing to do. But someone's name is so important, and a mother wants to say her baby's name out loud."
"...even when your heart is broken, even when bad things happen, you can still pick yourself up and find happiness."
"When a baby is stillborn or dies, people don't ask. It's not because they don't want to ask --- they simply don't know it's a nice thing to do. But someone's name is so important, and a mother wants to say her baby's name out loud."
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews