I AM.........

I AM A MOTHER, FATHER, BROTHER, SISTER, GRANDPARENT.


After the loss of your baby. You may have to explain and help your other children mourn the loss as well. Children are like adults they all grieve in their own way and at their own pace. Children often have a hard time voicing how they feel. They may need a lot of guidance and support from you to help them cope. The most important thing to do is keep the communication open by talking often with your children. Talk to them in a group as well as on an individual basis. Encourage them to ask questions. Watch how your child plays and interacts with others to help give you clues on how they are coping or feeling that day. Anger is a common behavior when dealing with children and grief. Let your child know you are there and here to help them. Touch is extremely important and effective so don’t be afraid to hold and physically comfort your child—this may help you as well. If you are still concerned and feel your child needs more support than you can offer, please consult a grief counselor.



NO FAMILY SHOULD WALK THE JOURNEY OF GRIEF ALONE AFTER THEIR CHILDS DEATH

Please join us for the CARE Support Group. It is always held the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30-8pm at 1840 Paseo San Luis in the SVRHC Outreach Center.

Thank You To All That Attended

Thank you to all that attended the First Annual Mothers/Fathers Day Celebration at Veterans Memorial Park. We had a small gathering of parents and siblings that came out to honor their babies and to be honored for Mothers and Fathers Day. Short messages were inscribed on the various colored latex balloons that were than released after two poems were read. Parents gathered in a small circle to watch as the balloons disappeared into the heavens above. After the balloon release parents gathered around for refreshments and reflection. Each family member left with a heart shaped pin attached to the poems listed below.

Father’s Day
Dad, you support mom along the way
Waiting for the time and day
When you can hold your daughter or son
And you can finally be the one
To toss your babe above your head
And tuck him in his waiting bed
Make a toy or buy a drum
Your time was near, but did not come.
Who knew you would be standing nigh
And have to prematurely say goodbye?
This day is yours and yet it’s not
Others don’t see the many tears you fought
To hold within and look so strong
As you tried to say nothing wrong.
On this your special Father’s Day
Remember your baby who would want to say,
“I love you Dad. You are the one.
I’ll always be your daughter (or son.)
Feel my kiss upon your cheek
And know that someday I believe we’ll meet.
Until then, let your tears come, (or not)
And love my mommy lots and lots.”

S. Ilse 2009

Mothers Remembered
As you recall,
Your womb cradled your baby gently,
Your arms embraced your baby lovingly,
And your own mom carried you excitedly.
Remember the beauty of this unending circle of love.
You are always a mom, loved by a mom.
Separation and death can’t break it.
This bond and love endures,
Forever and always.
Moms remember.
Moms are to be remembered.
It is the only way.
The right way.
God’s way.

Remember, mom, remember.

S. Ilse 2009

Thank you!

Mothers and Fathers Day Event

As We Celebrate Mothers and Fathers Day
Please
Join Sierra Vista Regional Health Center’s C.A.R.E Program
on
May 23, 2009 from 11am-1pm
at the
Veterans Memorial Park Ramada 1 (by the volleyball court)

This event is to honor all the bereaved parents who are often overlooked during these holidays.
There will be a balloon release, refreshments, networking, and a memory item display.

SVRHC C.A.R.E Program: is for anyone who has been affected by a loss of an infant or newborn,
whether through early pregnancy loss, miscarriage, still birth, or neonatal loss.
For information about this event or about the C.A.R.E Support Group
please call Rebecca at 234-0809.

Mothers Day

First and foremost,
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to ALL!
Often times this holiday is one of the more dreaded holidays among bereaved mothers. You are a very special mother of a precious child(ren) and will always be that mother. Even though your child(ren) is no longer here to celebrate with you, don't let others forget that you are a mother. Go out and celebrate yourself as a mother and the precious time you had with your child. Whether you pamper yourself at home while relaxing and reflecting or are surrounded by family and friends celebrate your day as a mother. Don't let yourself or anyone else forget that you are a mother and talk about your child(ren) as others talk about their living children.

Also remember many times others are hesitant and do not know how to respond to you on Mothers Day, let your family and friends now what you would like them to do for you. Whether you would like them to celebrate the day with you or remember you by getting you a Mothers Day card. Please let them know that this day is important for you and you would like to be honored along with the many other Mothers.


* * * * A Mother's Day corsage has a meaning of it's own.*****
A Mom with a Yellow Corsage,says she is always in grief. She lost the child she cherishes... Her flowers make up a wreath.

Happy Mothers Day!

The Power of Baby Photos

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

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Author of Empty Arms, Sherokee Ilse will be in Sierra Vista

This month at our support group on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 6:30 pm, Sherokee Ilse, a bereaved mom and author of Empty Arms will be a guest speaker. She will be sharing her 27+ years of experience working with families in a discussion geared for couples to better understand each other's grieving and surviving styles, as well as how family members 'cope' and how to communicate with them. Sherokee and Tim Nelson just wrote and published their book, Couple Communication After a Baby Dies: Differing Perspectives.

Please come out and join us, everyone is welcome!

The C.A.R.E. Support Group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Sierra Vista Regional Health Center’s Outreach Education Center located at 1840 Paseo San Luis. Any questions please contact Rebecca Buksh @234-0809.

Honor your baby...Impact Congress March 25

Honor your baby...Impact Congress

Help us send parents to Washington DC for the Infant Loss Symposium and
meetings with Congressmen on March 24-25, 2009

And let us bring your babies pictures and stories with us!


We invite you to help support important Stilbirth/SIDS legislation by
participating in the creation of “Our Babies—Always Loved, Always
Remembered—Memorial Album”

On March 25, 2009 bereaved parents and other infant health advocates from
around the country and from many different loss organizations will be coming
together on Capitol Hill to lobby for important legislation related to
stillbirth, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and SUID (sudden unexpected
infant death.)

If you send us your baby's name, pictures, and or short stories, you will
help make it real to those who have the power to create legislation and
appropriate money to support research, awareness, and education on
stillbirth, SIDS, and SUID. We are creating a Baby Memorial Album that our
parent teams will leave with each Legislative office. Would you like your
baby's name/photo in it???

To learn more about how more about it and how to participate click here
www.firstcandle.org/our-babies/