The Western New York Volume 8, Issue 4 Perinatal Bereavement Network, Inc. Nov 2011—Feb 2012 F ORGET-M E-N OT INSIDE THIS ISSUE: FROM OUR HEART TO YOURS Holiday Memorial 2 Services Save the Dates! Getting Through the 2 December 7, 2011 7:00 PM Holidays Helenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Buffalo Network News 3 A Service of Remembrance… sponsored by Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo 19th Annual Walk to 4-5 December 11, 2011 7:00 PM Remember St. Gregory the Great Church in Williamsville Caring Arms Support Circle’s Holiday Memorial Candlelight Service Forget-You-Nots 6-7 January 5, 2012 7:00 PM Poetry 8 Sisters of Charity Hospital Chapel in Buffalo Thoughts on the Walk to 9 Footprints on the Heart Holiday Memorial Service Remember Dear Gabriella 9 WNYPBN M EMBER O RGANIZATIONS Car Magnets Available 9 Brooks Memorial Hospital Kaleida Health Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital Women & Children’s Buffalo Prenatal / Perinatal NYS Center for S.I.D.S. Safe Arrivals 10 Hospital of Buffalo Network Olean General Hospital Lending Library 10 Millard Fillmore Suburban Catholic Health System Hospital United Memorial Medical Mercy Hospital Submission Info and 10 Center Sisters of Charity Hospital Jones Memorial Hospital WNYPBN Donation WCA Hospital Info The Center for Hospice & Life Transitions Center, Inc. Palliative Care March of Dimes Foundation Wyoming County Community 11 Health System Kids’ Stuff: Eastern Niagara Hospital— Mount St. Mary's Hospital of Zack Buckner Lockport Division Lewiston Area Support Groups 11 L ETTER F ROM T HE E DITOR www.WNYPBN.org I hope you all like the new look newsletter to look more daughters in heaven… but for the Forget - Me- No t professional and snazzy! something for myself in their newsletter. Since I had a honor is always called for! serious mishap with my The holidays always prove to be Enjoy this edition and have a WNYPBN, Inc. previous computer, all a hectic and trying time, so I do blessed and peaceful holiday Board of Directors: templates from previous hope you will do something for yourselves this season. You Dr. William Zorn, President editions are gone, so I thought season! I’d take the time to re-vamp the deserve it, I’m sure! I always do Rev. Richard Zajac, Vice some things to honor my President Lisa Jerebko, Secretary Suzanne Mis, Treasurer M ISSION S TATEMENT : Dawn Both-Kim, John Curr, Melissa Guido, Lesley parents. The WNYPBN supports Jordans, Francine Kane, Jan The mission of the Western New of perinatal death. We promote York Perinatal Bereavement Net- standards of bereavement inter- an established standard of care Walkden, Lisa Wolff work (WNYPBN), Inc. is to assist vention through educational sup- following a perinatal death, re- Christine Scott, Executive the community to meet the port, community programs, and gardless of the facility where the Director needs of people facing the pain referral services to bereaved birth took place. Page 2 Volume 8, Issue 4 A SERVICE OF R EMEMBRANCE ... Sponsored by Women’s and Wednesday, December 7, 2011 Please park behind the church Children’s Hospital of Buffalo at 7:00 PM and enter through the front Hellenic Orthodox doors facing Delaware. You are invited to A Candlelight Church of the Annunciation Service of Remembrance to 146 W Utica St. A reception by the Women’s honor children who have died. (corner of Delaware) Philoptochos Committee will Please join us for an evening of Buffalo 14222 follow the service. In case of inclement weather, compassion, music, reflection We look forward to seeing you. and friendship. call 716-878-7773 for further information. M EMORIAL C ANDLELIGHT S ERVICE KALEIDA’s Millard Fillmore Sub- Please join us as we celebrate Questions may be directed to urban Hospital invites you to: our Sons and Daughters during Terri Fronczak (716) 743-1159 this season of love. Parents, Caring Arms Support Circle's grandparents, friends, relatives, Annual Memorial caregivers and clergy are warm- Candlelight Service ly welcome. Sunday, December 11, 2011 Reception will immediately fol- at 7:00 PM low the service… please bring a St. Gregory the Great Church simple snack to share during 100 St. Gregory Court Fellowship Time. Williamsville 14221 In case of inclement F OOTPRINTS O N T HE H EART weather during any of Sisters of Charity Hospital January 5, 2012 Please arrive 15-20 minutes Invites you to the At 7:00 PM early so we may start on time. the Memorial Events, Footprints on the Heart Sisters Hospital Chapel, Feel free to bring a memento or Annual Candlelight Memorial 2nd Floor photo of your baby for the altar. please call the contact Service 2157 Main Street A reception of light refreshment person listed for Buffalo 14214 will follow the service. Please join us for an evening of Due to the solemn nature of cancellations and further music, reflection and lighting of this service, we request attend- candles in memory of our ba- ance by ADULTS ONLY. details. bies who have died through miscarriage, stillbirth or early If interested in attending or you need further information, infant death. please RSVP Fran Kane, RNC at 716-862-1678 G ETTING T HROUGH THE H OLIDAYS Whether this is your first year smile on my face for the world hang on the tree… I get more after a loss, or your fifty-first to see a “normal” me. I felt every year. year, you will likely miss your anything BUT normal. But I also baby during the holidays more knew that my particular holi- But this is ME… this is how I than other times of the year. days would have been worse if I chose and needed to spend my Christmas, especially, is geared didn’t have the house decorat- holidays. Many people may not toward children, making it hard ed and been prepared for the be able to celebrate the holidays, for those of us who do not have holidays. I had been given a or will need to change their cus- our baby with us. It is horrible, small stocking that read, toms and traditions to correlate it is terrible, it is sad… but we “Baby’s First Christmas” that I with how they are feeling. This is completely okay, too! The take- somehow make it through. hung up in a prominent place in our house. I also wrote a note home message is… do what you I remember my first year after to my baby girl, placing it in the need to do, and take care of your- losing Marrina. I forced myself stocking. I ended up getting self… your baby would want you to decorate early and slapped a Christmas ornaments for her to to. By: Dawn Both-Kim Forget-Me-Not Page 3 I can’t believe that fall is here er, I feel so blessed for all the ing together, giving another and that the winter season is changes that occurred this an opportunity to heal. right around the corner. Time year. The Network is finally The New York City Association passes so quickly and the settled into our new space of Neonatal Nurses (NYCANN) four seasons seem to whirl operating as an independent invited me to speak at an around us like a strong Lake public charity. The Still Birth educational conference in wind. A special friend and bill has passed and is finally a New York City the week after Walk to Remember Commit- law after such a devoted, Without Changes, the Walk to Remember. tee Member, Sarah Noonan, emotional and long fight. The There were 14 different NYC put the whirlwind of life in Bill was introduced to New there would be no hospitals represented at the perspective one day as the York State in 2007 and had conference. I was honored committee was at a meeting. gone through a number of Butterflies! that our organization has We were discussing the changes until it was finally grown so much that we are theme for this year’s Walk to passed this September! Our being given the opportunity to Remember. She said Network continues to help the assist professionals across “Through the change of sea- newly bereaved, as well as the state with the training sons and time our love for you parents who have been suf- they need to keep helping remains forever rooted in our fering in silence for 20, 30, families and honoring the hearts.” As I reflect on this 40 years; senior citizens in tiniest of lives. It was a won- statement and look back at our community have reached derful experience, and I hope the transitional year (seasons) out to another generation as it was as meaningful to them our Network encountered, the they heal their own hearts one thing that is a constant is and make Wings of Love urns. as it was to me! the deep rooted love we have Bereaved moms are support- During this holiday season for our children. Our Network ed by other bereaved moms and always I wish you peace, brings the community of be- that offer a listening ear and healing and hope. Always reaved families together so hope. Beautiful, hand- remember our children’s tiny we can continue to grieve, stitched burial garments souls have touched our own remember, share, and heal clothe our tiniest of angels as and will live on in our hearts together. they are laid to rest. The dedi- forever for love doesn’t die. cation of many volunteers As the Network’s Executive that lend their heart, hand, Sincerely, Director and bereaved moth- time and talent keep us com- Christine Light a candle for your baby during the P REGNANCY & I NFANT L OSS A WARENESS holidays..