When a child dies, it is hard to imagine anything more heartbreaking. The needs of the grieving parents are unlike any other, and even friends and family with the best intentions may not understand how to begin to approach the family, which can often lead to feelings of isolation and additional sadness.
In addition to my education as a funeral director, I’ve received certifications and training in infant and pregnancy loss, as well as child grief, understanding sibling grief, understanding grandparents and grief, and subsequent pregnancies after loss.
I offer free support, online, over the phone or in person to those who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, still birth, newborn death or termination, as well as to women who are pregnant following a loss. This support is offered to all parents, regardless of religion, gender, sexual orientation, background or time of loss, be it recent or decades ago. I don’t offer grief therapy, but the support I do offer is often therapeutic, and the space I create for my families is always safe, honest and open.
I am available to funeral establishments who have no professional charges to a family to assist or give direction with all aspects of funeral services & aftercare for pregnancy and infant loss.
If you have experienced a loss and find yourself here before selecting a funeral home, I offer my professional and personal assistance in letting you know what special child and infant loss services are available within the funeral homes of Niagara Region.
My goals echo the goals of the October 15th Campaign. I am actively involved in educating others on infant and pregnancy loss, and proudly lobbied for this day to be recognized on a government level.
My goals!
Get society to acknowledge the significance of the life of each baby and to understand the devastation for families following the death of a baby.
Ask society to honour and remember the babies who died with their families and realize that these babies are still part of the families – no matter how much time has passed since their death.
Educate society to be mindful of the uniqueness of each death. These are complex issues that cannot be addressed with simple checklists or generic recommendations. Although the common element is the death of a child and grieving the child, each tragedy occurs in individual situations and might lead to unique challenges. The same applies to the time when the baby dies. Miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death are very different events with unique and shared challenges, but differences as well, e.g. a stillbirth for one family can feel and unfold very differently from a stillbirth for another family based on many factors.
Create a more supportive environment in which society is empathetic and compassionate with bereaved parents.
Encourage decision-makers in health professions to implement crucial support services for parents who have to endure the death of their child.
Increase research to find answers to why babies die so that we can prevent the death of babies.