Emma's story is one of fear and loss, hope and strength, reality and acceptance and, ultimately, the victory of living an unexpected life with a faithful God. Stretched will encourage anyone struggling with baby loss or parenting challenges.

Emma: Yes. In the book I talk about a lady called Jasmin who has been a teacher to me. She's taught me how to be kind and patient, she's taught me how to not judge people, and to lower my expectations of others. She's taught me how to be grateful. Not her in isolation but the nurses have taught me these things. I love my life; I'm so content. I'm a mentor, a parenting support worker so I can use all the things that I've learnt by hook or by crook I'm now using in my life which gives me great contentment.

Jeff: Do you think it's like Esther in the bible, you're born for such a time as this? As you look back, you wouldn't have chosen it but maybe you're the right person in that situation and now you're the right person to help other people who are on similar journeys.

Emma: Definitely. And we're in a society now where mental health issues like anxiety are rife. Everyone's wanting to make statements about all sorts of different things in life and I really believe that my story points to God. I think God can bring answers; he can bring restoration and healing. And death is now talked about much more in society; special needs is talked about. So there is a place for that voice to say actually, God can help you in the situation you find yourself in.

Jeff: When you read the book, Stretched, you do feel as if you're being stretched in all sorts of directions but the integrity of the book is in its honesty. You talk about family pressures, the times when you could give up but you're still standing. That's where the integrity comes through. The book says it's a mother's true story of hope and survival. There's a part of the book about signs - rainbows. That's your sign, isn't it?

Emma: There's one thing I would have liked to put in the book but didn't. I asked God for a rainbow when I was really frightened that I was going to lose my next baby. There is something called a rainbow baby and it's the baby that's born after the loss of a baby. I'd never heard of a rainbow baby so when I asked God for a rainbow to show me that this will never happen again that was definitely an idea that God had planted in my head. So God knew what I needed and put the idea in my head to ask for it. And the peace that God gave me because of that was amazing. They are a sign of God's promise; his presence, his faithfulness and they are there for everyone to see. They aren't just for me. If you want to hear from God, if you want to see God in the situation you find yourself in, ask for a rainbow. Or a bird or a feather. Ask for a sign.

Jeff: There are several times in my life when it's been a kingfisher. When my mother was in a coma I said please God would you let me know you're in control? I didn't ask for healing, just to let me know you're in control. Two feet in front of me flew a kingfisher and he dropped down onto a sign that said 'no fishing'. As he sat there, I thought that's as big as it's ever going to get for me. God's not bound by human rules. As I was reading your book I thought at times this is heart wrenching. I almost didn't want to read the next chapter but I wanted to get to the end to know that you're still there. Thank you for putting the book out there. Many people I see going through a bad time and I want to put it in their hands. I want to say it's not easy; sometimes it's not complete healing; sometimes God gives us a form of pain management. These books where everything's marvellous and everybody rides off into the sunset, sometimes we stand looking at the sunset from a distance. Thank you for writing the book and for sharing with people. I pray that God will bless that work. How old are your children, by the way?

Emma: Zoë's 22, she's getting married next year. Georgia is 19 ½ and Jasmine has just turned 17.

Jeff: I hope they all appreciate what their Mum's done and their part in the book as well.

Emma: They do.