October – Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month 2016

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 15^th and the Wave of Light

On October 15^th, 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 11^th, 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 16^th, 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 15^th, 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 15^th, 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 15^th, 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 15^th, 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 15^th
  Click here for more details.
  
• Deshler, Ohio
  SGM Day of Remembrance and Hope
  October 15^th, 9am EDT
  Click here for the event page on FB.
• Elko, Nevada
  Annual Wave of Light
  October 15^th, 5pm PTZ
  Click here for the event page on FB.
• Houston, Texas – organized by M.E.N.D
  Walk to Remember
  October 15^th, 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 23^rd, 9:30am PTZ
  Click here for more details.
• Valparaiso, Indiana
  Wave of light ceremony
  October 15^th, 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 15^th, 6:30pm (ETZ)
  Click here for the event page on FB.
• Toronto, Ontario
  Reception for Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day
  October 6^th, 12noon (ETZ)
  Queen’s Park
  Click here for the event page on FB
• Vancouver, British Columbia
  Miscarriage Awareness Month meeting
  October 3^rd, 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.