October 15th - Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

[myangelsvw]

For anyone who has experienced a pregnancy or infant loss themselves, or knows someone who has, I thought you might want to know about today's designation as a day of remembrance.

Tonight at 7pm in each time zone, people will be lighting candles in remembrance of their angels, forming a "wave" of lightings. Although we remember our babies every day, being able to take part in a public display of remembrance can be especially moving, since it often feels like they are forgotten by most of the world.

I'll be lighting candles tonight in memory of my sweet baby boys, William and Vincent, as well as all the other angels whose parents I am blessed to know. And I'd like to invite anyone who is inclined to join me to do so as well.

If anyone is interested about the day of remembrance, there's more information here: http://www.sidsalliance.org/2006awarenessmonth/october15.html

[excitedbride]

thank you for posting.:)

[PinkMartini]

Thanks for posting that... I lost a baby at 12 weeks, 6 years ago.

[jenahdawn]

We lit our's (used our unity candle) at 6:30 and kept it lit until almost 8:30. My inlaws lit a candle for our girls as well.

We also talked about them and our future children, should we get lucky.

[la_bride_2004]

Thanks for posting this. I lit a candle for my 4 losses, and for anyone/everyone else.

(jenah- you were among those I thought of, as well as myangels).

[kmmommy]

I wish I had read this sooner as I would have lit candles for my all my CC/LJ/Real life friends who have lost a pregnancy or infant. Thank you for posting this as I can now add it to my calendar for next year.

{{{HUGS}}} and best wishes to those who have suffered such a loss.

[LDS Angel 19]

I'm glad someone posted this over here. They actually mentioned it on one of our local radio stations on Saturday, I was so surprised.

[isaacsmommy]

Darn, I wish I saw this earlier. I would have lit a candle. I personally haven't had a loss, but I know those who have. The one that breaks my heart the most most though was one that was due to violence (shaken baby) not SID's or miscarriage. I didn't even know the little girl personally (was a co-worker of her g-ma).

[myangelsvw]

Bumping this up since October 15th is fast approaching.

[jenahdawn]

I'd forgotten you started this thread last year!

Our candles are ready already!

[kmmommy]

{{{HUGS}}} to all of you.

[HeatherFL]

Thank you for posting this.

[junkinmytrunk]

Wow, how did I not know about this? I had 3 losses prior to my DS. In fact, Huggies still has my second loss in their database and I get mailers from them for that pregnancy. :(

Thank you for the heads up on this.

[jenahdawn]

jimt, congress just passed it last year, so it was "official" for the first time last year. Don't feel bad. You know there are a lot of things we don't know about until we experience them...

[Annette]

Thanks for the heads up too. I didn't know there was such a day.

[jenahdawn]

Any of you who are sub. to the Oct. 15th website should have gotten this today.

Poem that gives a little understanding to how much of an outsider you get to feel:

"A Pair of Shoes"

I am wearing a pair of shoes.
They are ugly shoes.
Uncomfortable shoes.
I hate my shoes.
Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.
Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step.
Yet, I continue to wear them.
I get funny looks wearing these shoes.
They are looks of sympathy.
I can tell in others eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not theirs.
They never talk about my shoes.
To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.
To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them.
But, once you put them on, you can never take them off.
I now realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes.
There are many pairs in this world.
Some woman are like me and ache daily as they try and walk in them.
Some have learned how to walk in them so they don't hurt quite as much.
Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by before they think about how much they hurt.
No woman deserves to wear these shoes.
Yet, because of these shoes I am a stronger woman.
These shoes have given me the strength to face anything.
They have made me who I am.
I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has lost a child.

Author unknown

(Plus, this thread should be bumped up to page one today!)

[HeatherFL]

Thinking of everyone today. I was really tempted to write my ex-boyfriend, since he is the only other person invovled and honestly, would understand my hurt. It's best I don't, so I really appreciate that others can understand.

~H.

[cr8zyforaf]

jenahdawn - thank you so much for posting that poem.

I am thinking of everyone today.

[tealynn]

That poem was really great. I just teared up a little. I will get my candles out when I get home.

[LyLMyssChaos]

Thanks for bumping this up. I cried when I got that poem.

[roberta]

Thanks for bumping this up. (((hugs))) to everyone