I'm having a really awesome day today. Scheduled Michael's baptism, kids had a good day at school, and I had a rocking conversation with a Sister at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia regarding their work with bereaved parents and parents who have been given a terminal prenatal diagnosis.
In the bulletin this last weekend, I saw a notice for something called Be Not Afraid, a program that the Archdiocese was putting on to help train peer mentors for helping families cope with loss and perinatal diagnosis. We are out of town that weekend, so I emailed the nun listed as the contact person, asking if the program would ever be repeated and letting her know I'd like to get involved. She emailed me back yesterday and we spoke on the phone today. She thinks I'd be a great fit (as do I) for the coordinating team, and I just cannot wait to get involved with this ministry.
Currently, I'm putting together a listing of support resources (and I'd love your feedback). Let me know if there are any online (or in person, especially if you are in the PA-MD-DE-NJ area) support networks you found helpful as you dealt with miscarriage and pregnancy loss, infant loss, stillbirth, or carrying to term with a terminal prenatal diagnosis. I have quite the list, but I'd love to make sure I don't miss anything. Also, if you are a doula or birth worker willing to volunteer bereavement services, that is another huge thing that I'd like to have accounted for, since some families will have no one to support them in their deliveries or losses. Any additional thoughts on services, organizations, etc, that you've had experience with are very appreciated.
I am so proud of our Archdiocese for getting involved in this and for being proactive in making sure that all parents have support, especially during these darkest of hours.
1 comment:
For the loss of one or more multiples, I would recommend CLIMB, the Cemter for Loss in Multiple Births, Inc. (http://www.climb-support.org).
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