Today’s Advent Calendar Window opens for anyone who has lost a baby and for Iris-May Butterfly Kisses, a Wellingborough Charity, set up to help and support families going through pregnancy and infant loss. Founder Stephane Mills said:
I founded Iris-May butterfly kisses in memory of my daughter Iris-May, she gained her wings at 8 days old after being born prematurely at 25 weeks 2 days. I love being able to support other families going through pregnancy and infant loss, as it does feel like you on your own. I want them to know that there are people out there for them.
Iris-May Butterfly Kisses was set up because of the pain of not having something to dress Iris-May in and because Stephanie could relate to the pain that other families will be feeling when they lose their baby. You can read their full story here.
Iris May Butterfly Kisses aim is to relieve the suffering and emotional distress amongst parents and families who have experienced the loss of a baby through ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, or neo-natal death; in four ways by:
- Supporting newly bereaved parents by the provision of memory boxes and care packages. Memory boxes are filled with items to make memories such as blankets, handmade items, candles, inkless wipes with cards, sympathy cards, and memorial items.
- Supplying books to young people in resources bags to help explain the loss of their sibling to other children.
- Providing or assisting in the provision of bereavement suites in hospital units where such facilities are not provided by the NHS.
- Raising funds for other charities who provide training and support to healthcare professionals, and others, to assist them in improving their help and support to such bereaved parents.
The charity was registered on 12 July 2018 and since then has provided 40 memory boxes to Rosie Maternity Unit in Cambridgeshire, and are now working with hospitals in Northamptonshire to help people locally. They are now going further afield with their memory boxes, making them available across the UK.
Last Christmas time they did a collection for Northampton General and Kettering General hospitals to purchase presents for patients who are staying in hospital over the Christmas period. At Easter they donated chocolate eggs to children whose families had gone through pregnancy loss, or if they had a sibling in the neo-natal unit.
They rely on donations and the support of their fundraisers. The funds raised ensure that they can continue to offer support and comfort to families going through pregnancy and infant loss across the country. There are many ways to get involved, whether you join in at their fundraising events or even host your own fundraising event.
Please do consider giving either your time or money to this worthy cause. You can find out how on their website, or on their Facebook page. Your kindness will help them to continue supporting families during their difficult time of losing their little one.