October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. It’s a time when many individuals and organizations bring extra attention to this type of child loss.
Many groups share statistics to increase the general public’s awareness of the thousands of babies who die each year and to encourage people to better support families who have experienced this type of loss. Some groups launch campaigns focused on the prevention of child loss. Many families honor their children through attending events, such as organized walks/runs and remembrance ceremonies.
The hospital where our son, Travis Jr., was born holds an annual remembrance ceremony in honor of the babies who were delivered there and have passed away.
This year’s ceremony was held in a nice garden outside of the hospital. The program included remarks by the hospital’s chaplain and members of the leadership team, reflections on loss from an ObGyn physician who personally experienced the loss of a child, and a poem by a parent in tribute to her child. Some parents also shared tributes to their babies by saying their children's names, sharing memories, and discussing their babies’ impact on their lives.
It was a time full of tears, deep reflection, and great honor for these precious babies' lives.
After the ceremony, families had the opportunity to make crafts in remembrance of their children and write cards to support other families who will experience the loss of a child.
Families informally mingled, exchanging contact information, sharing more stories about their children and experiences with loss, and sharing information on support groups and other helpful resources.
The gathering was a beautiful time to collectively grieve and celebrate our babies’ lives among a group of caring healthcare professionals and families who understand the pain of child loss.
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If your hospital doesn’t offer a remembrance service, please send us a direct message so we can explore opportunities to help with getting one started.