Child Loss Awareness Week
This video is my life, a life I never thought would be mine but a life that could just as easily be your life tomorrow. Tonight I am going to share Jacks Journey as he is what led us to this place and he will forever drive me to raise awareness of child bereavement and grief.
When Jack died aged 5, I was very naïve and thought that children didn’t die, I really did think I was the only person in the world to lose child. Sadly that is not the case, in 2015, 3181 children from ages 0-4 died in England and Wales and 211 in Scotland. At the other end of the scale, 4096 children aged between 25-34 died in England and Wales and 588 died in Scotland. It doesn’t matter what your child is, they will always be your child. I am 32 but I am still my mum and dads child and if I died tomorrow, they would experience the same pain that I did when I lost my son Jack aged 5. I can tell you from my own heart that there is no greater pain than burying your own child and living the rest of your life without them.
Brightest Star supports families who have lost children in pregnancy, as babies, infants, toddlers, teenagers and adults so this year, I have decided to make baby loss week as Son/Daughter Loss week so every parent is included. Brightest Star’s Son/Daughter Loss Week is a chance to remember every baby, infant, teenager and adult that has died. To me, it does not matter if you child was 1 or 41 when they died, you are still their parent and no parent should see their child die before them.
Brightest Star’s Son/Daughter Loss Week goes alongside Baby Loss Week which takes place from 9 to 15 October each year. This week is an opportunity for parents, their families and friends to acknowledge and remember children who have died.
It is a chance for us to raise awareness of the fact that sadly, children of all ages die and what life can be like for a parent after the loss of a child. This week you will see videos of some very brave parents talking about the loss of their children. This took great courage but they have done this is in their childs memory to help raise much needed awareness. Please post pictures and stories of your children on our page, do not be afraid to talk about them. If we are afraid to talk about our children, how can we expect others to say our child’s name?
Many people may not know what to say or how to offer support to someone who has lost a child. People don’t like to talk about grieving and children dying, society has made these a taboo subject. Son or daughter loss week is an opportunity to help banish the taboo of talking about children dying and grief and help educate people on how to support families suffering every parent’s worst nightmare. Please post your experiences of this and any advice you would give to those who don’t know what to say. Together, we really can make a difference.
On Sunday, there is international ‘Wave of Light’ 15 October and we ask each of you across the world to light a candle in memory of a son or daughter that you know has died. We would love to see photos of your candle and the name of the person that you are remembering.
Arlene, Jack’s Mummy xxxx
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