Bonded FOR LIFE

As a new mother faced the most agonising of challenges, her best friend stepped in to hel

- TRACY GAYTON

When Lauren Beckett and Kayleigh Taylor first met as office workmates, they'd never have guessed that they'd become best friends - and that one day, one of them would save the life of the other's only child. 'It's amazing how life turns out!' says 27-year-old Lauren from Toddington, Bedfordshire. 'At first, we didn't take much notice of each other. But these days Kayleigh is so important to me, I can't imagine life without her.'

The two started working together in 2016. Back then, Lauren was a carefree, single young woman, and Kayleigh was nine years older, married with two children. Both were then payroll executives. 'We were at different points in life, but over time I came to appreciate how friendly and easy to talk to Kayleigh was, and that didn't matter any more, Lauren recalls. 'We started meeting outside work - often on a Friday night, when I'd go to her place to share a takeaway.

Kayleigh confided in Lauren that she lives with a health condition, Gilbert's syndrome, causing fatigue and episodes of mild jaundice. Though a lifelong inherited disorder, it doesn't require treatment because it doesn't pose a serious threat to health.

In 2019, Lauren met her partner, Callum, now 24. Two years later, there was more exciting news - she was pregnant! Thankfully everything seemed to go well, and as her tummy swelled, there were no obvious concerns.

Lauren's son Tommy was born in October 2021 - apparently perfect. 'Cradling him in my arms I fantasised about the happy times to come,' Lauren says. 'But 12 hours later, I was worried. Our baby looked yellow from jaundice, seemed cold and wasn't feeding or passing urine. Doctors said he should stay in hospital.'