AN East Lothian mum who lost her eldest child to at the age of just 18 months has written a collection of songs for bereaved parents.

Jenny McGregor found therapy in writing music when she suddenly lost he toddler son Jamie to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Singer/songwriter Jenny turned to music to help as she struggled to come to terms with her loss but found there was a huge lack of music written about, and by, people who had lost a child.

She determined to write her own songs and is now fundraising for the funds to release them as a charity album to help others.

Jenny, 34, who spent her childhood in North Berwick where her dad Brian Caie still lives with her stepmum Marie and younger siblings Louise and Kevin, moved to Australia in 2004, after finishing a BA Hons degree in Dance Theatre Performance.

She and husband Ben live in Sydney with younger children Charlie, 5, and Sophie, 2, but Jamie is never far from their thoughts.

Heartbreakingly Jenny was at Sydney Children’s Hospital supporting her sister-in-law whose young son Lachlan was battling a serious heart condition, when Jamie was discovered not breathing by dad Ben, in 2010.

Jenny recalled: “All the family were so preoccupied with my nephew and everything that was going on with him that we weren’t prepared for anything happening to Jamie.

“The last time I spoke to Jamie was on the phone that night. I sang him a song and that was it.”

Jamie had suffered a couple of seizures during his young life but nothing prepared the couple for the sudden loss.

In the weeks and months following Jamie’s death Jenny looked to music for solace but could not find what she needed.

She said: “I turned to music in my darkest moment but traditional love songs just didn’t ‘cut it’. I wanted to hear music that had come from the heart and soul of another grieving parent, someone who understood my pain. I wanted to know that I wasn’t alone and that there was a possibility of hope again.”

Jenny’s mission is to produce an album of music for other bereaved parents and their families, to help in the grieving process.

She has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $25,000 Australian dollars to professionally produce the album which will raise funds for her local charity Red Nose, which supported the family following Jamie’s death.

Jenny said since launching her fundraising campaign, she has been overwhelmed by the support she has received from others.

She said: “I am so grateful to so many people for sharing this project, and I’m so thankful for the messages of understanding and support that I’ve received from other bereaved parents and families.

“This album is a legacy to my son, Jamie. It has been a part of my healing, and if it can help just one other person heal, then it has been completely worthwhile.”

To support Jenny click on Kickstarter campaign here