Tribune
September/October 2006
Issue 9
![]()
In This Issue
October 15th News Updates by Robyn Bear
Transcription from H.CON.RES.22
Congressman Thank you's
Help Needed
Articles of Interest
Remembering Our September Babies
Remembering Our October Babies
True Stories
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down
Poetry Corner
Memorial Store Discontinued Items
Memorial Stepping Stones by Anna
Letters To The Editors
News Letter Submission Guidelines
![]()
Important News
Update for October 15th
by Robyn Bear, Remembering Our Babies
On September 28, 2006, House Resolution # 222 was passed in the House of Representatives supporting the goals and ideals of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Many families watched this take place live on C-SPAN Television, watched live on the internet, and listened on news radio.
The House started out with several speakers. Georgia Representative Lynn Westmoreland, Illinois Representative Danny Davis, Iowa Representative Tom Latham, Georgia Representative Phil Gingrey, and ended with California Representative Brian Bilbray.
California Representative Brian Bilbray told of his own personal story 22 years ago. He and his wife lost their precious baby at the age of 3 months to crib death which is now known as SIDS. He was very emotional as he spoke and brought both me and my husband to tears as we watched.
Soon after, they agreed to pass the House Resolution.
Just below is a word for word of the transcription that took place on September 28th in the House of Representative.
September 28th Transcription
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS REMEMBRANCE DAY
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con.Res. 222) supporting the goals and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. CON. RES. 222
Whereas each year,
approximately one million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage,
stillbirth, or the death of a newborn baby;
Whereas it is a great tragedy to lose the life of a child;
Whereas even the shortest lives are still valuable, and the grief of those who
mourn the loss of these lives should not be trivialized;
Whereas during the past 3 years, Governors of all 50 States have signed
proclamations designating October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance
Day;
Whereas the legislatures of the States of Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, and South Dakota have passed concurrent
resolutions recognizing October 15th of each year as Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Remembrance Day;
Whereas the observance of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day may provide
validation to those who have suffered a loss through miscarriage, stillbirth, or
other complications;
Whereas recognizing Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day would enable the
people of the United States to consider how, as individuals and communities,
they can meet the needs of bereaved mothers, fathers, and family members, and
work to prevent the causes of these deaths; and
Whereas October 15th of each year is an appropriate day to observe National
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the
Senate concurring), That the Congress—
(1) supports the goals
and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss remembrance Day; and
(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of
the United States to observe such day with appropriate programs and activities.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. WESTMORELAND) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. DAVIS) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
GENERAL LEAVE
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is an enormous tragedy to lose the life of a child, and it is a sad statistic that each year approximately 1 million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn baby. As this resolution states, even the shortest of lives are of great value, and the grief of the parents who lose their children cannot be underestimated.
The Governors of all 50 States have joined together in designating October 15, 2006, as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day; and I hope all Members will join me in supporting the goals and ideal of this day as well.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, when any baby or child dies, there is deep grief for the hopes, dreams, and wishes that will never be. Left behind are a sense of loss and a need for understanding. Every year, many lives are touched by miscarriage or the death of an infant or child. According to a 1996 study by the Center for Disease Control, 16 percent of the more than 6 million pregnancies that year ended in either a miscarriage or a stillbirth, and 26,784 births ended in infant death. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day, which will be held on October 15, will assist in bringing the process of healing to families and will help to heal families who are coping with and recovering from a miscarriage, stillbirth, or the loss of an infant.
Families will always struggle to cope with the devastating crisis of a miscarriage or loss of an infant child. Parents often cry, feel ill or depressed, or have other emotional responses for months or years after a death. The pain is a normal part of grieving. Parents often want to talk about their pain and are pleased when others take the time to listen. People who come into contact with a grieving family have a role in helping to resolve the family’s grief. The role of each person will be determined by his or her relationship with the family and the family’s stage of grief.
As a community, we should remember that no one can take the pain away from a grieving family. We can, however, provide comfort, sympathy, and understanding. There will always be the need for compassionate support for grieving families, and I hope that all Americans will take the time on October 15 to show their compassion for families that have experienced the loss of an infant or a child.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and a distinguished member of this House from the State of Iowa (Mr. LATHAM). b 1600
Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, each year approximately 1 million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a newborn baby. Most Americans are not aware of this startling statistic, because many of those affected grieve in silence, sometimes never coming to terms with their loss. We can help by giving all parents, grandparents, siblings, relatives and friends a special day of remembrance. In addition, bringing attention to this issue will foster greater understanding in our communities of how to meet the needs of bereaved family members and focus attention on efforts to prevent pregnancy loss and newborn deaths. The Governors of all 50 States have signed proclamations recognizing October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, and the legislatures of at least eight States have passed resolutions recognizing this day each year on a permanent basis.
Congress can bring even greater national awareness to this important issue by proclaiming its support for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Taking this action will mean something special to millions of Americans that have been affected, especially the mothers. I commend the resolution’s 54 bipartisan cosponsors and the many citizens throughout the country and in my home State of Iowa whose efforts have made consideration of this resolution possible. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of this resolution which will offer the support to individuals and families who have lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth or other complications.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. GINGREY).
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I too want to thank Representative LATHAM for bringing this resolution to the floor and stressing the importance to make people understand that a million babies lost a year, in addition to probably another million or so that are aborted deliberately, is a lot of lost lives.
Mr. Speaker, I think the importance of this resolution is to let people know that when couples have a miscarriage, it is a child. It might be for some people, well, it is just a miscarriage. They were only 6 weeks or they were only 9 weeks, and they did not even know whether it was a boy or girl. But in the minds of that couple in many instances it is their very first pregnancy, and they are already thinking about that little boy or the little girl and what the name is going to be and the clothes that they are going to pick out and the joys they are going to have sending that child to school and raising it and seeing it play sports and become an adult some day and contribute to our great society.
We tend to forget that. And this was brought home to me pretty vividly recently when my daughter-in-law, pregnant with their first child, found out at10 weeks that the baby did not have a heartbeat. And so that baby was lost. And she went on, of course, and miscarried. And that loss will be with them forever. And so I think it is just so important for us all to realize that when somebody, when you hear about somebody having a miscarriage, do not think, well, it was just a miscarriage, it is not like losing a child or an older child, which of course I do not know that anything compares to that. But this is a significant loss. And that is why this resolution today is so important. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank Congressman LATHAM for bringing it forward and Congressman DAVIS as well.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. BILBRAY).
Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Mr. LATHAM and both the majority and the minority for presenting this resolution today. I do not talk about a situation that occurred over 22 years ago in my family. Actually it was 22 years, 2 months ago that my wife and I lost our child at 3 months to crib death. I am sure you have got to believe that 22 years should be able to cover up the pain and the hurt and the scar. But it does not. And though we have been blessed with five healthy children, we will always have that missing spot that that little 3-month-old baby filled. But I want to thank you for today, and I stand up here today and speak of this matter to represent the men and women who have gone through what my family has gone through, and thank you for this.
If I may leave you with one message: more important than us grieving for our losses of those young ones that have died and are not here today, the best way for us to really remember them is to appreciate and worship and thank God for the blessings of having healthy children and babies that we can take care of. Because they truly are the best memorial for our babies that we have lost, by preserving and protecting the treasures that God has given us in healthy children.
Written into transcript (Not available to Speak)
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H. Con. Res. 222, a resolution commending the goals and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. As a practicing OB/GYN for almost 40 years, I know there are few things more devastating than losing a child to medical complications such as a miscarriage or a stillbirth. Americans should take every opportunity to provide comfort and support to people who have suffered such a grievous loss.
I also wish to pay tribute to the efforts of Mrs. Robyn Bear, who played an instrumental role in bringing this issue before Congress. Mrs. Bear’s story is an inspirational example of how a dedicated individual can make something good come from even the most tragic circumstances. After suffering six first trimester miscarriages between 1997 and 1999, Mrs. Bear began working to create a support system for parents who lost their children because of medical complications during or shortly after pregnancy. Largely due to her efforts, Governors of all 50 States have signed proclamations recognizing National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Mrs. Bear has also been instrumental in founding several online support groups for families that have suffered the loss of an unborn or newborn child. Mrs. Bear’s efforts were also the inspiration for this legislation. I am pleased to let my colleagues know that today Mrs. Bear is the proud mother of a 6-year old girl and 3-year old twin girls.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this bill. I also extend my thanks to Mrs. Robyn Bear for all her efforts to help parents who have lost a child due to a miscarriage, stillbirth, or other medical complications.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I want to urge all Members to support the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 222, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. WESTMORELAND) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 222, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was agreed to. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
PASSED
![]()
Thank you's to Congressman !!!!
If any of you would like to say thank you to these 5 Representatives who spoke on our behalf or the more than 50 Representatives who co-sponsored our House Resolution you can go to their websites below to email, call, or send a card to them.
***Congressman Tom Latham (Iowa) – Brought the Resolution in front of Congress and spoke on our behalf. http://www.tomlatham.house.gov/
***Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (Georgia) – Spoke on our behalf. http://westmoreland.house.gov/
***Congressman Danny Davis (Illinois) – Spoke on our behalf. http://www.house.gov/davis
***Congressman Phil Gingray (Georgia) - Spoke on our behalf. http://gingrey.house.gov/
*** Congressman Brian Bilbray (California) – Spoke on our behalf and also shared his emotional story of losing his baby 22 years ago to SIDS. http://www.house.gov/bilbray/
![]()
Another special thank you should go to Congressman Latham’s aide, Jacob Parker, who worked very hard on keeping me updated on every move that was being made. In turn, I was able to keep all of you on the News Letter updated even very close to 10 minutes before the House proceedings were to start.
If anyone would like to send Jacob a card, please mail it to:
United States House of Representatives
Congressman Tom
Latham
2447 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1504
Attention: Jacob Parker
![]()
The following are the co-sponsors of the House Resolution. If any one would like to reach them you by clicking on http://www.house.gov/
|
Rep Steven Rothman – NJ
|
Rep
Todd Akin – MO
|
![]()
Help Needed for News Letter
I am in need of someone who can volunteer take over the news letter. As I am sure everyone is aware I am so busy I am having a hard time keeping up. I would like someone who knows how to do a professional looking news letter. All of the information.... articles, stories, everything will be provided to you. All you would have to do is to make it look like a nice news letter.
I have a news letter staff of volunteers who does everything, except for putting the news letter together. If you would like to help please email me at jovigirl@houston.rr.com with any information on experience that you may have.
![]()
Articles of Interest
![]()
It takes one to
touch one
Get educated about infant and pregnancy loss
By Sharee Moore
Grief snuck up behind me and put a knife in my back. It caught me off guard, spun me around and landed me flat on my face.
My baby was dead and there was nothing anyone could do or say to change the horrible truth. Initially, family and friends rushed to my aid. There were cards, e-mails, phone calls and hugs. Within two weeks, all the commotion slowed to a halt.
In a month, friends and acquaintances acted as though nothing happened. My husband and I were alone in our grief. After three months, most people expected me to have moved on. By the end of the year, I believed I was crazy because I couldn’t conform to others’ grief schedules.
www.MedicalNewsToday.com states that more than 4 million babies across the globe die each year. In the U.S., annually, another 800,000 pregnancies end in miscarriage, states a transcript of Sound Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine’s radio broadcast.
With such a widespread problem, infant and pregnancy loss awareness should be a top priority for our society and the medical community. To meet this need, in 1988, former President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the month of October Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month.
The following is a list of suggestions you can use today to increase sensitivity and make a difference in one hurting parent’s life this month and beyond:
10 tips for families and friends
Allow the bereaved parent to grieve in their own way and don’t forget that dads hurt, too.
Never advise a parent to “get over it,” “move on,” or “don’t cry.”
Never “empathize” by sharing a story about your dead pet, grandmother or Uncle Lester. It just isn’t the same.
Never say “If there is anything you need, call me.” He or she won’t be fully functional and will have zero energy to make or remember phone calls.
Offer your help by making strong, specific suggestions like: Allow me to help with your laundry, cooking, planning of the memorial service, informing others of the family’s loss, paying the bills, providing or arranging childcare for surviving children, etc.
Use kind phrases like: “I’m so sorry,” “I can’t imagine your pain,” “my heart breaks for you,” “I don’t understand how you feel, but I’m willing to listen,” “I don’t know what to say,” “I love you.” For the most part, sit quietly and listen.
Know the signs and symptoms of suicide and depression; don’t hesitate to demand professional help.
Write down and acknowledge the baby’s name, birth and death dates. To forget is heartbreaking.
Expect your loved one to relapse during the weeks leading up to the expected delivery date, one year anniversary and first birth date. Be supportive and know this relapse is normal now and in years to come.
Get informed about the grief process! Buy or borrow a book about infant and pregnancy loss.
For medical professionals
“It,” “fetus,” “fetal demise,” “GBS baby,” “SIDS case,” “aborted fetus” and other medical jargon are unacceptable terminology in the parent’s presence. Instead use the baby’s name or terms like “baby boy,” “baby,” “little one” or similar.
Patient care involves the physical and mental. Don’t get so busy tending to the physical that you avoid taking the time to just be there and listen.
Talk to the patient about what they can expect to see, feel and hear before, during and after a miscarriage or stillbirth delivery. Describe how the baby will look and what the parent can expect from labor pain and the procedure for delivery.
Never just hand a stillborn baby to his mother without cleaning and swaddling the baby in a blanket. Offer to take pictures. The parents will value these pictures later.
Don’t take the baby away until the parents give permission. This is the last opportunity to parent their child.
At follow-up visits, acknowledge their loss and let them know you have not forgotten.
As a general practice physician, never try to give advice outside your area of expertise. It is insulting to your patient.
At routine appointments, never become so detached that you rattle off questions about the patient’s loss as if it were an everyday occurrence.
It’s okay to cry with or for your patient.
Although thousands of grief support resources are available now more than ever before, don’t underestimate the impact one person can make. Get educated about infant and pregnancy loss, show compassion and reach out to the hurting.
Making a difference starts with you and me.
Sharee Moore is the mother of three angels, a bereavement counselor and author of “Stolen Angels: 25 Stories of Hope after Pregnancy or Infant Loss.” She can be reached at momax3angels@yahoo.com.
![]()
Ending the Silence Surrounding Pregnancy Loss
By Hannah Stone
When it comes to pregnancy loss, it seems that the less said, the better.
No one wants to discuss it and no one wants to hear about it. It’s considered a taboo subject only is it discussed in hushed conversations.
Yet our aunts have
lost pregnancies, as did our grandmothers, mothers, sisters and friends.
Pregnancy loss is so common yet rarely is it an open topic of discussion. With
the appearance of a forbidden subject, grieving parents are left to feel
isolated in their grief and devastation. They feel there is nowhere to turn and
no one understands.
But there are people who do understand and there is somewhere to turn. It helps
to be with people who can listen when you want or need to talk and it helps to
be with people who will give you the support and comfort you need. Support for
pregnancy loss survivors can be found in at a local church, hospital, community
center and online. Whether the pregnancy was lost in the early weeks or the
final month, there is support available for grieving parents.
I certainly did not
feel that way over 12 years ago, when I suffered the first of three pregnancy
losses. I was sent home from my D & C, broken-hearted and with very little
information on what to do, once I physically recovered. It was never suggested
to me I find support from other grieving parents through a support group for
pregnancy loss. I resumed my normal activities once I felt better physically and
I moved on, so to speak. I went back to work, enjoyed my lunch dates with my
friends and within a few months, I was pregnant with my now 11 year old
daughter. I moved forward, yes; but looking back, I never truly moved on. And I
believe it is because I was not offered and given the proper support in dealing
with my loss.
Nothing prepares a father or mother-to-be for the shock and pain of losing a
pregnancy. A baby did not have to be born after nine months in order to be loved
and treasured. A baby was anticipated and wanted and it was taken away without
permission, consent or notice. The loss needs to be grieved and mourned by the
parents but they need to be reassured there is no timeline on the grief process.
A pregnancy loss is not something someone just gets over in a matter of days. It
is a true loss, just like the loss of a pet, the death of a family member or a
friend. Some days might be better than others and the grieving parent might find
him/herself laughing at a joke or feeling happy. This doesn’t mean he/she has
forgotten the pain of losing a baby. There may be days when the grieving parent
wants to curl up in a fetal position and cry until there are no tears left.
It is imperative grieving parents are offered and given support by people who
understand (and appreciate) a pregnancy loss is a real loss. Their feelings
should not be minimized with an unkind comment and their loss must not be
trivialized. Too often, those closest to us our friends and family members tell
us what they think is the right thing to say but is really the last thing we
should hear: “It was God’s way,” “It was better that it happened now, rather
than later,” or “At least you have other children.”
Each of these statements might be true but none of them offer us comfort or take
away the pain. I can honestly say the emotional pain is going to be there, far
longer than the physical pain of a loss.
In the 12 years since my first loss, I have found we have come a long way with
support for pregnancy loss. I don’t remember knowing of more than three or four
pregnancy loss websites. I certainly wasn’t told of a local support group I
could join. Today, support is available; it’s merely a matter of leafing through
a yellow pages or doing a quick Internet search. There are pregnancy loss
support groups, both online and off, virtually all over the world. Most of them
were started by women (and men) who experienced pregnancy loss first-hand and
who want to reach out to others. There are support groups in Australia, England,
and the United States. There are support groups at the local hospital, church,
community center and synagogue. Google the word pregnancy loss support group and
there will be pages upon pages of valuable information. There are support groups
for ectopic pregnancy loss, stillbirths and the loss of a multiple pregnancy.
There are support groups for grieving fathers, grieving mothers, grieving
siblings, and grieving grandparents. Support is available. It’s just a matter of
seeking it out.
And once support is found, the healing of pregnancy loss can truly begin.
Hannah's book "Forever Our Angels" is available on the Remembering Our Babies Memorial Store.
![]()
Finding Hope and Healing
Building Bears for Bereaved Mommies
By Terra-Lynn Coggan, founder and director of Bears for Bereaved
Mommies
Three years ago on Sept 26, 2003 my family experienced the devastating loss of a much loved and anticipated addition to our family.
My nephew Riley Joseph was born still. Riley was perfect aside from the tragic accident that had caused his life to come to an end shortly before birth. At a time when our family should have been celebrating new life and making plans for the future we were preparing for a funeral, picking out the perfect headstone, and mourning a life lost much too soon. Riley was to be the “sunshine after the rain” being predeceased a month and a half prior by our family patriarch Robert James.
Many plans had been made for the day we would bring Riley home. A nursery had been prepared and painted with the perfect colors for a bouncing baby boy, a rocking chair adorned with a teddy bear sat in the corner waiting late night feedings, a crib stood constructed waiting to be filled with the warmth of our tiny baby boy.
For some as their dreams were envisioned they become a reality. The reality for families who experience the loss of a child during pregnancy or shortly after birth is that their dreams are crushed, the future they envisioned is no longer, and they struggle daily with their loss, isolated, and surrounded by the insensitivity of others who do mean well, but do not know how to offer their sympathy in a sensitive, caring, and professional manner.
At the time of my family’s loss we were unable to locate support services within our hospital or community to assist us in incorporating our loss into our life in a healthy manner. We were sent home to “move on” with our life without Riley. Unfortunately this situation has occurred on countless occasions, due to the unavailability of programs and services that support families and assist them to find hope, healing, and new life after their loss.
We were isolated from the same individuals who supported us through the pregnancy; we struggled to “move on” with our life with out Riley, with no support and little understanding available to us.
The first three months preceding the loss of Riley were spent in isolation due to being unable to find support services to assist me to begin to understand and live with my loss. It was at this time I sought out the internet for support and understanding; I meet many wonderful individuals who like me felt compelled to the internet for support and to share their stories. The mommies I meet changed my life and help me to find hope and healing.
As I began to heal with what should have been Riley’s first birthday approaching I felt the need to do more, to give back to the many mommies who supported me through my loss and helped me realize I was not alone. Shortly thereafter I crafted a bear to gift to my sister in memory of Riley. As I crafted my bear I filled it with love and tears with every stitch I sewed. I knew my sister surly would find the love I placed within her bear and hoped she found comfort holding and crying with it, as had I. It was this first bear that was to be the beginning of the organization that has become Bears for Bereaved Mommies.
Since our first bear in September 2004 Bears for Bereaved Mommies has distributed bears to bereaved mommies throughout Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. I often hear from mommies who have received our bears telling me how grateful they are to have received such a thoughtful gift, how our bear offered them a special friend who they could cry with, and how our bear offered them the opportunity to find hope and healing; these things alone make Bears for Bereaved Mommies all worth while.
Bears for Bereaved Mommies is continually developing and expanding to meet the needs of those who experience pregnancy and infant loss find comfort and support and to continue our campaign to raise pregnancy and infant loss awareness.
It is my hope through the work of Bears for Bereaved Mommies, families who experience the loss of a child during pregnancy or shortly after birth will find support services to assist them in incorporating their loss into their life in a healthy manner, so that they my find hope, healing and resolve.
In closing I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those who attend our events, those who believed in me and the work I set out to do, to the individuals who support Bears for Bereaved mommies by giving donations, to the woman who devoted their time and skills to building Bears for Bereaved Mommies to what it has become today, and to the Ladies of October 15th. My appreciation to the late Dr. Mary Eileen Travis who encouraged me to continue my work, this is for you.
For more information go to www.bearsforbereavedmommies.org
![]()
Planning for the UK’s Baby Loss Awareness Campaign is underway
By Marion Currie – Campaign Coordinator and
International Editor.
Baby Loss Awareness Week is Oct. 9 to 15. Now in its fourth year, Baby Loss Awareness Week will see people whose lives have been touched by the loss of a baby during pregnancy or just after birth uniting across the UK to show their support for the 2006 campaign. The week’s events will culminate on International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on Oct. 15.
As in previous years, volunteers are organizing a range of fundraising activities and events across the UK to increase awareness of the issues surrounding pregnancy and infant loss and to raise funds for the main UK charities providing support to bereaved families. It is hoped there will be flagship balloon releases in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in addition to other events around the UK.
Ribbon pins will be available in return for a suggested minimum donation of £1. These can be ordered online, by post, or in bulk on a sale or return basis.
If you have time why not volunteer to make our awareness ribbon pins – all materials and full instructions are supplied – all we need is a few hours of your time.
For a full current listing of events please visit the campaign website for more details www.babyloss-awareness.org
To find out more about getting involved
either to help organize an event or to make and sell ribbon pins please contact
Marion the campaign coordinator on 07900 495436 or email
info@babyloss-awareness.org or write to Baby Loss Awareness, PO Box 13703,
Musselburgh EH21 6WX.
![]()
UK Ceremonies
England
|
Location |
Date & Time |
Event |
Contact |
|
|
Barnsley |
Hospital chapel, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
15/10/06 ~ 2 pm |
Memorial service with candles and balloons |
Cath cjones7@nhs.net 01226 320401 |
|
Bristol |
Memorial Woodlands |
15/10/06 ~ 5 pm |
Wave of Light service |
Maria 0117 9498933 |
|
Charlton nr Andover |
St. Thomas Church |
15/10/06 ~ 3 pm |
Memorial service |
|
|
Grimsby |
Old Clee Parish Church, Church Lane (off Clee Crescent), Old Clee |
15/10/06 ~ 6.30 pm |
Wave of Light service |
Alison gms-alison@hotmail.co.uk Or Revd. Walker 01472 691800 |
|
Guildford |
Guildford Cathedral |
07/10/06 ~ 11 am |
“A Celebration of Life” A special remembrance service for babies and children |
Caroline caroline@carolinejay.com 01483 570027 |
|
Hereford |
Oak Avenue, Queenswood |
15/10/06 ~ TBA |
Balloon release |
|
|
Ipswich |
Hospital Chapel |
15/10/06 ~ 2 pm |
Baby Loss remembrance service followed by a balloon release and refreshments |
Jo 01473 630333 |
|
Isle of Wight |
St. Georges Park, Newport |
15/10/06 ~ 2 pm Release @ 3 pm |
Balloon release and raffle |
Shelley shelleypeach@btinternet.com |
|
Leeds |
Roundhay Park |
07/10/06 ~ 11 am |
Balloon release |
|
|
London |
St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge |
TBA |
Wave of Light service |
|
|
Nottingham |
Queens Medical Centre |
TBA |
Balloon release |
|
|
Poole |
TBA |
TBA |
Wave of Light service |
In association with S.P.R.I.N.G. (Supporting Parents & Relatives in Neonatal Grief) |
|
Salford |
Babies’ Memorial Garden, Hope Hospital |
15/10/06 ! 2 pm |
Opening of new babies’ memorial garden with a balloon release |
Trish palpaa@aol.com 07800 571341 |
|
St. Austell |
Carlyon Bay Hotel |
15/10/06 ~ 2-5 pm |
Remembrance service and balloon release followed by refreshments |
Jenny jenny@forgetmenotbaby.org |
|
Surrey/SE London |
Warlingham School, Tithepit Shaw Lane, Warlingham |
15/10/06 ~ 2 pm |
Balloon release |
Lee CAVALLIDIGGER@aol.com |
|
Theale |
Village Hall, Englefield Road |
14/10/06 ~ from 7.30 pm |
Charity event disco with grand raffle & bingo. Tickets £2.50 under 16’s free |
Mel mel.burgess@ntlworld.com Leanne lee_loves_life@hotmail.com |
|
Truro |
The Epiphany, Kenwyn |
07/10/06 ~ 2-4 pm |
Balloon release followed by refreshments |
Jenny jenny@forgetmenotbaby.org |
|
Tunbridge Wells |
Christ Church, Prospect Road, Southbrough |
01/10/06 ~ 3 pm |
Sands – Tunbridge Wells, annual service of remembrance |
Katie katieturner66@talktalk.net 01892 536688 or Christ Church 01892 513680 |
|
Warrington |
St. Oswald’s Club, Padgate Lane |
20/10/06 ~ 7.30 pm |
Fundraiser evening, with pub quiz and other entertainments Tickets £3 |
Gemma nickfan1@hotmail.com 07736 322675 |
|
Worthing |
On sea front, bottom of Sea Lane, Goring |
15/10/06 ~ 2 pm Release @ 2.30 pm |
Balloon release |
Rosemary rosemary@forgetmenot-families.org 07838 116277 |
Ireland
|
Location |
Date & Time |
Event |
Contact |
|
|
Belfast |
Malone House, Shaws Bridge |
15/10/06 ~ 3pm |
Balloon Release |
Jen and Helen jenandhelen@yahoo.co.uk |
|
Dublin |
The Gresham Hotel, O'Connell Street |
15/10/06 ~ 3 - 5pm |
Informal gathering to remember all babies. Light refreshments available. |
Michele micheleturner@oceanfree.net Organised by The Miscarriage Association of Ireland and ISANDS (Irish Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society). |
Scotland
|
Location |
Date & Time |
Event |
Contact |
|
|
Edinburgh |
The sanctuary, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary |
15/10/06 ~ TBA |
Time for quiet reflection in memory of all babies lost during pregnancy, at or shortly after birth |
|
|
Falkirk |
Callendar Park |
15/10/06 ~ 2 - 4pm Release @ 3 pm |
Balloon Release |
Michelle michelle@arcampbell.co.uk
|
|
Motherwell |
Centenary Suite, Fir Park Football Stadium, Motherwell |
14/10/06 ~ 7.30 - late |
Fundraising evening Tickets £5 |
Nic nic.love@btopenworld.com |
Wales
|
Location |
Date & Time |
Event |
Contact |
|
|
Cardiff |
Road Safety Centre, North Road |
15/10/06 ~ 3 pm |
Balloon release |
Hj hj@dave255.fsnet.co.uk |
![]()
United States Ceremonies
![]()
![]()
Remembering Our September Babies
In each issue, remember those angel babies who are Remembrance Dates fall within the current month and celebrate the impact they have made upon our lives, no matter how short was their time with us. Remembrances are organized by day, then year.
To have an angel baby remembered, submit the date or dates of Remembrance, the angel baby’s name/moniker, and how you would like the “Remembered by” line to read, to Lynn at ourangelbabies@gmail.com. Deadline for publication is the 10th of the month prior to the next issue date.
(1981) Baby Kemp,
Remembered by Mom Juli Kemp-Humphries
(2003) Angel Baby Broomhall, Remembered by mom Sarah Broomhall
(b. 8/25/04 d. 9/1/04) Michelle Elizabeth, Remembered by Parents Jocelyn and
Nick
(9/3/05) Emma Marie, Remembered by Mom, Dad, and Big Brother Dylan
(9/4/97) Duggan Twins, Remembered by parents Lisa and Matt Duggan
(9/4/01) Max, Remembered by parents Jessica and Jonathan Meltzer
(9/5/01) Cherylynn Reneé Smith, Remembered by Mom, Dad, Big brother Michael and
Little Sister Ashley
(9/5/01) Melissa Elizabeth, Remembered by Mom Mary and Daddy Patrick
(9/5/04) Hope, Remembered by Mommy, Daddy, and Big Brother Gregory
(9/6/99) Melissa Ann Wiseman, Remembered by Mommy and Daddy
(9/6/07) Aahron Collein, Remembered by Mommy Tamara
(9/7/03) Hannah, Remembered by parents MM and SM
(9/8/00) Sarah Elizabeth, Remembered by parents Elizabeth and Michael, sister
Caitlyn Glider
(9/8/01) Rueben Angelo, Remembered by Mommy, Daddy, and Sister Scotia
(9/8/02) Quentin Mackay, Remembered by Parents Ken and Julie Kell
(9/8/03) Angel Baby Pool, Remembered by Mommy Missy and Daddy Terry
(b. 9/8/05 d. 9/16/05) Zane Allen Buzzard, Remembered by Mommy and Daddy
(b. 9/9/90 d. 1/22/01) Amanda Jo, Remembered by Mommy Kelli, Daddy Shane, Sami,
Cody, Alyssa, Meagan & baby Leah
(9/9/05) Anthony Christopher, Remembered by Mom Cherie and Dad Jared Ham
(9/10/04) Alivia Anntonette Hasser, Remembered by her loving family
(b. 9/10/04 d. 3/4/05) Ryan Joseph Dean Dowden, Remembered by Grandma, Grandpa
and Uncle Phillip
(9/10/05) Jessica Lee Vigil, Remembered by Mom Janna and Dad Eddy
(9/10/05) Baby Sewell, Remembered by Mom and Dad
(b. 9/11/03 d. 9/13/03) Zoe Michelle Gay, Remembered by Mom, Dad, Emily, Kelsey
and Travis
(9/13/01) Meg