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October 1, 2016

October – Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month 2016

Nathalie Himmelrich

October – Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month 2016
       

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness
Most of you know that October is International SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month (and also Breast Cancer Awareness Month). This article will shine a light on the history and meaning for our community, and provide a resource of events and projects you can take part, if you wish, to make this month meaningful for you. It will also offer a list of ways you can support yourself.

History

According to Wikipedia, the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Movement began in the United States in 1987. On October 25, 1988, American President Ronald Reagan designated the entire month of October 1988 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. (Read more about the history here.)

In 2007, Congressman Tom Latham of Iowa introduced a House Resolution supporting the Goals and Ideals of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, October 15th, and called on the President of the United States to issue a proclamation encouraging the American people to honor this special day of remembrance.

October 15th and the Wave of Light

On October 15th, now called Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (PAILRD), at 7:00 pm in all time zones, families around the world will light candles (and leave the candle burning for at least an hour) in memory all of the precious babies who have been lost during pregnancy or in infancy.  Too many families grieve in silence, sometimes never coming to terms with their loss.

If you or someone you know has suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss due to SIDS/SUID, prematurity or other cause, we hope you will join us in this national tribute to create awareness of these tragic infant deaths and provide support to those that are suffering.

Contributors of the Still Standing community have a number of events planned, check out their specific pages:

  • Capture Your Grief by Carly Marie from Project Heal, all through October
  • The Grieving Parents Support Network, founded by author Nathalie Himmelrich, offers free community peer support all through October in the new May We All Heal Group. Please join here.

Events around the globe:

AUSTRALIA

  • Visit the website of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Australia to find events in Australia via the drop-down menu.
    http://15october.com.au/
  • Adelaide, South Australia – organized by Sands South Australia
    Candle Lighting Ceremony
    Prospect, Adelaide
    October 11th, 7-8:30pm (Australian CST)
    Click here for the event page on FB.
  • Adelaide, South Australia – organized by Sands South Australia
    Walk to Remember: take steps our babies could not take
    Thorndon Park Reserve, Paradise, Adelaide
    October 16th, 10:30am (Australian CST)
    Click here for the event page on FB.
  • Central Coast, New South Wales – organized by Bears of Hope
    Remembrance Walk
    October 15th, 2pm (Australian EST)
    For more details click here.
  • Muswellbrook, New South Wales – organized by the Anglican Parish of Muswellbrook
    Wave of Light, Garden of Innocents, Muswellbrook Lawn Cemetery
    October 15th, 6.45pm (Australian EST)
  • North Ryde, New South Wales – organized by Bears of Hope
    Memorial Day at Eden Gardens
    Please send your RSVP to social@bearsofhope.org.au
  • Hobart, Tasmania – organized by Bears of Hope
    October 15th, 11am (Australian EST)
    For more details click here.
  • Brisbane, Queensland – organized by Sands Queensland
    Walk to Remember
    October 16th, 10am
    Click here to view details.

UNITED KINGDOM

  • Ulverston, UK – organized by Tigerlily Trust
    Remembrance Celebration
    October 15th, 6.30pm CET
    Click here for the event page on FB.

UNITED STATES

  • Atlanta, Georgia – organized by Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
    Remembrance Walk
    October 15th
    Click here for more details.
  • Deshler, Ohio
    SGM Day of Remembrance and Hope
    October 15th, 9am EDT
    Click here for the event page on FB.
  • Elko, Nevada
    Annual Wave of Light
    October 15th, 5pm PTZ
    Click here for the event page on FB.
  • Houston, Texas – organized by M.E.N.D
    Walk to Remember
    October 15th, 1pm CST
    Please register here.
  • Omaha, Nebraska
    5 K run/walk
    October 15th
    Click here for more info.
  • Santee, California– organized by Empty Cradle
    Walk to Remember
    October 23rd, 9:30am PTZ
    Click here for more details.
  • Valparaiso, Indiana
    Wave of light ceremony
    October 15th, 6pm CTZ
    Click here for the event page on FB.

CANADA

  • Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
    Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day
    Art Gallery of Algoma
    Includes personal stories, flower petal release, candlelight vigil at 7pm (Wave of Light)
    October 15th, 6:30pm (ETZ)
    Click here for the event page on FB.
  • Toronto, Ontario
    Reception for Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day
    October 6th, 12noon (ETZ)
    Queen’s Park
    Click here for the event page on FB
  • Vancouver, British Columbia
    Miscarriage Awareness Month meeting
    October 3rd, 7.30pm (PTZ)
    Click here for more info.

Please add any of the events near you in a comment.
Make sure to mention
– Place, city, state, country
– What it is, i.e. remembrance walk
– Date, time and time zone
– A link where someone could find more information

Thank you all for your support of one another.

Nathalie Himmelrich

Nathalie Himmelrich the author of a number of resource books for bereaved parents. As a relationship coach, grief recovery expert and bereaved mother herself she believes that relationships (intimate and to other support people) are the foundation for a healthy grieving experience. She is also the founder of the Grieving Parents Support (GPS) Network and the May We All Heal peer support group.

Find Nathalie’s books here: Nathalie Himmelrich or the Grieving Parents Support Network here: Grieving Parents

grievingparents.net

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  1. Meghan Constantino says

    October 1, 2016 at 11:26 am

    New Haven, CT- Organized by Hope After Loss (www.hopeafterloss.org)
    Footprints on Our Hearts Walk
    Saturday October 8th, 2016 12p-3p EST
    Register: http://www.classy.org/footprints2016

    Reply Report comment

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Founded in 2012, Still Standing Magazine, LLC, shares stories from around the world of writers surviving the aftermath of loss, infertility - and includes information on how others can help. This is a page for all grieving parents. If you grieve the loss of your child, no matter the circumstances, you are welcome here.
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