October 15th is the National Day for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance.
As a Chaplain who has worked in the women's and children's services unit in a hospital, I feel that more people need to be aware of how many families have been affected by pre-natal, peri-natal, or infant death.
Too often the issue of infant mortality and health is something that is considered "solved" in the US - many people consider it only an issue in developing nations. Our society - which doesn't handle death in a constructive and healthy manner - ignores the fact of mis-carriage and infant death because it is a difficult subject.
Every day couples have to deal with this heartbreaking reality, and often they receive neither support nor understanding from those around them; some individuals have been judged harshly and even criticized at a time when support and acceptance is most important.
If you are currently experiencing or have experienced the death of a child - whether in utero, after birth, or during childhood - please get help:
- Talk to either a therapist or chaplain experienced in grief work and the death of children.
- Take time to heal - understand that it will take time, as with all losses.
- Take time to remember - remember your child on key dates, talk to them, let them know that you love them and care for them, know that one day you will be able to have a full relationship with them within the afterlife.
- Finally, understand that it not because of anything that you or your child did - unfortunately we are immortal souls in mortal, physical bodies. Eventually those bodies become unable to support life, and that is when death occurs; while it seems normal to expect that babies should be exempt from this dictum, it is not. It is not a failure of God, yourself, medicine, the doctors, the nurses, or the child him/herself. It is not the "fault" of anyone, it simply is.
If anyone reading this would like more information, resources, or counseling, please contact me and I will help you.
Pax!
No comments:
Post a Comment