Pete and Georgie’s son, Sam, died on the 22nd June 2012 at 21 months On the night of June 22nd 2012, I went to check on Sam before I went to bed as I always did. I was surprised to see him on his tummy in his cot as he had always slept on his […]
Family Stories: Bereaved Parents
Silence Was Deafening
Sometimes I wish there was a place where grieving parents could move to, to be together. Not to share in our misery, but to be around people that understand what we are going through. I am so tired of people who “don’t get it”. The only time I feel really comfortable is when I am […]
This Is Amy’s Story
Amy and her husband Jerome were living in the UK, where his parents lived. Amy’s mother and other close family members and friends were in Australia. Their son, Marcus, became seriously ill and died at 14 weeks. Amy also had another son Leo who lived just 14 months. They are now divorced and she has […]
This Is Danielle And Jakes Story
Danielle and Jake already had one son, Alex, when Bennett was born prematurely and died soon after birth. They come from very different backgrounds – Danielle from a Mediterranean migrant family and Jake from an Anglo/Irish background. He was born in a small Australian country town. They now have another son, Dominic. Even before their […]
This Is Fionas Story
The friend of a bereaved mum pays tribute to Jude who died at 5 years of age from an undetected heart defect in 2011. Jude was the kind of child who took your breath away. When he died, two days before Christmas 2011, it was sudden, unexpected and incomprehensible. This cheeky, knock-about five-year-old, whom we […]
This Is Jenny And Roberts Story
Jenny and Robert’s first daughter, Emma, was born earlier than planned so they had responsibilities early on in their marriage. Jenny had severe pre-eclampsia in her next pregnancy which couldn’t be controlled by medication so she became very ill. Lily’s birth was induced and she lived only one hour. They now have another daughter, Luci. […]
This Is Josie’s Story
Josie and Gino, both of Italian background, had two daughters and a son Justin who drowned when he was almost three. They separated five years later, reconciled and had another daughter. However, they separated again and are now divorced. Initially Josie was overwhelmed and she broke down, totally absorbed in her grief. She had no […]
This Is Leesas Story
Leesa’s daughter Memphis died suddenly and unexpectedly at 15 months Thank you for letting me talk about my experience. I hope that what I write will help another parent to deal with the loss of a young child. When speaking with the coroner they may refer to your child as a case number and not […]
This Is Nathan And Naomi’s Story
Nathan and Naomi had three miscarriages before the stillbirth of Ethan, who was diagnosed with severe abnormalities. Working in the area of disability, Naomi knew Ethan had no chance of any quality of life were he to survive the pregnancy. They now have two daughters and a son. At the time of the birth Nathan […]
This Is Paul And Maris Story
My name is Paul. My wife, Mari, and I are parents of Harrison, Mia, Lachlan and Poppy. Harrison is 6, Mia is eternally 5 days old, Lachlan forever 4 days old and Poppy is 18 months old. Mia & Lachlan would have been three but were born at 25 weeks after Mari had spent a […]
This Is Rachel’s Story
Rachel’s daughter Iris died just before her 3rd birthday, on July 25, 2007 Losing Iris has challenged everything I thought I knew about myself and my beliefs about the world. I thought that ‘these sorts of things’ happened to ‘other’ people and maybe I naively thought that trying to live consciously, gently and with heart […]
Reflections
I did not know my younger brother Robert who died in hospital, just after being born. He never came home, I never played with him. Only a toddler myself, self- centred. I can’t even remember Mother’s pregnancy. I had no knowledge of my absent brother. Years later, coming home from school, I found my Mother […]
