THE MISSION

Welcome Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Friends and anyone else who needs an ear...Please come with an open heart.

This is a place for anyone who has felt the loss of a child. Treat this as a communication haven regardless of how or when you felt your loss. My definition of loss: miscarriage at any stage, still birth regardless of week gestation, infant death at any month, and loss of a child even if your child was all grown up. For me they all hold the same root of devestation. None are more profound or more "easily" dealt with than another.

Please cry if you need to.
Please connect with others who are in your same space.
Please email me if you feel led to
Please comment so we know what you need
Please tell your story

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Show and Tell - or in other words - Sharing and Caring!

For this week's Show and Tell I feel like I am really IN class as I present to you the proposal I've blogged about working on for the last two weeks! But, Mel...before you start handing out grades, please give partial credit to Martha , Klakly , Sara, and Nathansma

for their awesome contributions, guest editors spots, and an extra point or two on their show and tell to the many who sent words of encouragment!

Well, let's back up. It's actually more like an un-assigned book report that became an obesssion. (yeah - I used to do them and yes I am also well aware I was a NERD!) But my nerdy ways have come in handy lately. And I am in NO WAY insinuating that the rest of my contributers were nerds!

As I stated in this post my inquisitory meeting with the head nurse at the childbirth center evolved into a self-driven mission to begin a southern vermont Share group at our little hospital. The mission became a little big for me, so in this other post I enlisted the rest of you, our insanely strong heart-army of dead baby moms, to send me your ideas and suggestions for the proposal. (BTW - IF YOU STILL WANT TO SEND THEM PLEASE DO AND PLEASE JUST EMAIL THEM TO carajer@tds.net CAUSE SOME STUPID PASSPROTECT THIS KEEPS POPPING UP AND I DON'T KNOW WHY OR HOW TO GET RID OF IT...IF YOU DO - EMAIL TOO OK?)


So, my Show and Tell for the week is ....with much fanfare...the cumulative 30 pages of research, personal ideas and heartwrenching moments put together by US! A huge thank you to all of you for opening the doors to the past and your bravery in submitting so other mothers may suffer just an ounce less!

The cover page reads...

Building Heavenly Bridges


Infant Loss and Bereavement

Support and Outreach


Proposal Prepared for Springfield Hospital




And the mission page reads...

Mission:

To enhance the support of bereaved families of the Springfield Hospital community after the death of a child by providing comprehensive and compassionate care with patients and families through support, education, and outreach as a new Share affiliated group. For this proposal “child” is defined as a miscarriage regardless of weekly gestational development, a stillbirth (20 – 40 weeks) or an infant death up to 12 months.




Keep scrolling to see each section and the hospital's last remaining memory box (they have suffered a lot of loss this year - sigh). My husband...yes the gift certificate toting man - is volunteering his time to make 20 more to get them through this year (hopefully - bigger sigh) then will draw up his plans, for in all liklihood he will design his own style, and present it to local wookworking classes along with our mission and they will make them for years to come.






SAMPLE TRI-FOLDS DESIGNATED FOR EARLY-TERM LOSS, MISCARRIAGE, STILLBIRTH DELIVERIES, GRANDPARENTS GRIEF, CHILDREN'S GRIEF AND MORE!




EVERYTHING A HOSPITAL MANAGER WOULD NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND COSTS ASSOICATED WITH BECOMING A NEW SHARE GROUP!



WE DID SOME OF THE LEGWORK TO DEMONSTRATE WHICH GRANTS WOULD BE A GOOD MATCH FOR LOCATION AND WHEN THEY ALLOCATE.



THE BULK OF THE PROPOSAL TEXT: 16 PAGES DETAILING THE CHANGES AND ADDITIONS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE LOSS PROTOCOL.




THE LAST REMAINING MEMORY BOX (NOT FOR LONG!)

Don't be surprised if you see a virtual donation box someday for the Southern Vermont Share Group! I am committed to making this happen!

12 comments:

Michelle said...

Wow! You did such an AWESOME job! Thank you for everything you are doing for people like us that go through such pain! Through this Emma is going to be an Angel to so many people. What a wonderful, beautiful thing!

Kristin said...

Way to go Cara. I am so very impressed with the work you have done. Wow, wow, wow.

battynurse said...

Wow. You've done fantastic.

Delenn said...

How wonderful to not only come up with something like this, but also follow through and get concrete results! Not only are you creative, but you get things done! I am sorry, tho, that it is something that is needed. How awful to have to make Memory boxes in the first place.

Kudos to you and your husband.

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Cara, it is so affirming to watch you see this through. You are influencing so many people around you when they need it most.

Good on ya!

Sam said...

and people say that we don't care anymore! I will always rest easy in the world knowing that there are indeed people like you still out there.

That memory box looks so beautiful - certainly a treasure to hold treasures.

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

This looks so professional and really makes it real to me from 3000 miles away. Please let me know how the proposal goes and Thanks so much for sharing!

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

Amazing ... absolutely amazing.

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

Congrats! I'm sure that your work will benefit many many people, just when they need it most.

Nathansma said...

Awesome job! And I love the memory boxes. I wish we would have been given one. My mother did put together a shadow box for us that we display Angel Ruth's things (bracelets, footprint impressions, etc.) and picture in. Again, great job!

Carla
Nathan's Ma

MrsSpock said...

That memory box is gorgeous- and all the work you have done is just amazing.

My hat goes off to both of you.

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous job and wonderful service you are offering people dealing with such grief and helping then in such a thoughtful graceful way!!

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