Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day is to promote support, education and awareness for grieving parents nationwide and worldwide. October 15th is set aside each year for the remembrance.
On September 28, 2006, House Resolution #222 was passed in the House of Representatives supporting the goals and ideals of Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. The Canadian Foundation for October 15, also known as the CFO is the official foundation of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Canada. The CFO is leading the federal campaign to recognize October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Canada. Many bereaved families all over the world organize special events: walks, candlelight vigils, memorial services, balloon releases and ceremonies to remember their lost babies, support, educate, and give awareness to the losses that some have suffered in silence but shouldn’t have to.
There is also a worldwide Wave of Light every October 15th. Everyone is invited to light a candle at 7PM in ALL time zones, ALL over the world. If everyone lights a candle at 7PM and keeps it burning for at least one hour, there will be a continuous wave of light over the entire world on October 15th, Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. You are invited to participate, whether or not you or a loved one has suffered a pregnancy or infant loss. I always light three candles in honor of my three babies who were first trimester losses. Nat was due November, 2003, Moriah was due March, 2004, and Sydney was due September, 2004.
People look at our family with three beautiful girls, close in age, and probably figure I was one of those “fertile Myrtles” whom people that are suffering losses or infertility normally resent. I know – I was one of them. This is the day, even if I just stay home and light candles and post pictures of them on my Facebook page, that I recognize and tell the world that our family is actually double in kid count. It’s just that three of them aren’t on earth with us. I love all six of my kids. I just have to wait until heaven to meet the other three.
Having come full circle through the journey to grow our family, I am thankful for the transformation, growth, goodness and refining that has taken place in me through it. I am forever changed. The three precious lives that only lived for a few short weeks inside of me may have been tiny and brief, but they were the lives of huge, long-lasting impact on me.
During the months of each of Nat, Moriah & Sydney’s due dates, I will write the notes that I wrote to each of them on my blog. And as I did with Alexis’ birthday, I will write Jasmine’s & Kaitlyn’s pregnancy/birth stories on or around their birthdays. Each of their lives are precious miracles.
This year, I am also going to light a candle in memory of my beloved OB/GYN, Dr. Brenda Ferguson. I am simultaneously posting a tribute to her. It has been a month since her passing.
For more information on Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day, visit: http://www.october15th.com/
In Awe & Wonder 