THE Western Trust in partnership with Sands (Stillbirth and neonatal death charity) are inviting local bereaved parents and families to join them for a free event ‘Walk a mile in my shoes’.
The event aims is to give families the opportunity to get together to chat, develop friendships and ultimately able local parents to support each other during the days, weeks and years ahead after a baby loss.
The event will take place next Saturday, June 30, at 2pm starting in the Waterfoot Hotel carpark, with a walk along the river to the peace bridge, where an act of remembrance will be held.
On return to the Waterfoot Hotel, families will have the opportunity to help assemble Sands memory boxes.
Each bereaved parent receives a memory box following a stillbirth or neonatal death to help them begin to create and keep memories of their beloved baby.
This event will allow local parents to give back to local parents because most of the memory boxes made on the day will go to either Altnagelvin or South West Acute Hospital.
Trust staff will also be in attendance so any parents looking for a chat/advice.
Melissa Crockett, Childbirth and Pregnancy Loss Bereavement Midwife at the Western Trust said: “Our event aims to encourage us all to break the silence and find the words to talk about baby loss and bereavement and to not avoid the topic which has been done so many times before.
“As a Trust we want to encourage change locally and encourage bereaved parents to come together and remember their babies.”
Steven Guy, Northern Ireland Network Co-ordinator at Sands, said: “The Sands Northern Ireland Network has worked closely with the Western Trust to improve the care given to bereaved parents in the Western Trust area.
“We have developed a close working relationship with Melissa Crockett, Trust bereavement midwife, and the walk has developed from an idea Melissa had to provide an opportunity for parents and staff to spend time together to remember all babies who have died, in a special way.
“Holding a memory box making session at the end of the walk will be a practical way for everyone to create these special boxes, which will help bereaved parents create long lasting memories and mementoes of the time spent with their baby.”
