Public Urged To Light Candle In Memory Of Lost Babies

[mom2boys9802]

Public Urged To Light Candle In Memory Of Lost Babies

Oct. 15 Designated As Special Day Of Remembrance

POSTED: Friday, October 15, 2010

UPDATED: 4:10 pm EDT October 15, 2010

 

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For Brenda Menser of Novi, Mich., Oct. 15th has special significance. It's a special day to remember the baby girl she lost, just as her life was about to begin.

 

Oct. 15 has been designated Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day by several legislative bodies. Organizers said it is envisioned as a day when all grieving parents could come together and be surrounded by love and support from their friends and families. The goal is to provide support, education and awareness for those who are suffering or may know someone who has suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth, an ectopic pregnancy or the loss of an infant.

 

Menser was 25 weeks pregnant with her first child when something went wrong.

 

"I had back labor, so I had no clue it was labor. I thought it was just my back was hurting me. About an hour later, I was in the hospital," said Menser.

 

Doctors told her the placenta had broken away from the baby.

 

"The baby was going to have to be born, and probably wasn't going to make it," said Menser.

 

The baby weighed just 1.6 pounds. Menser named her Angel.

 

"Her heartbeat wasn't strong, and she didn't have a lot of life in her, so they didn't even put her on life support. They just wrapped her up, took her vitals and they gave her to me," said Menser.

 

Angel died in her mother's arms.

 

"Everything in your world was just gone. I mean, you were planning. Our baby shower was already planned," said Menser. "The worst thing in your life. I had her whole life planned out."

 

In her grief, Menser found support from family and friends and a website called http://www.october15th.com/ which is devoted to remembering babies lost to miscarriage or soon after birth.

 

"You can sign up and talk to different mothers who are going through it at the same time, or 20 years ago," said Menser.

 

After spending most of her second pregnancy on bed rest, Menser delivered a healthy baby girl named Cassidy. She hopes other parents in pain can find support in each other.

 

"It was a tough time; I can't even say now it's easy. It's hard," said Menser.

 

Organizers of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day encourage everyone to light a candle at 7 p.m. in their time zone in memory of all of the babies whose lives were lost too soon.

 

Menser said it's a tribute that means so much to mothers like her.

 

"This is about bringing awareness to others that losing a baby happens more than people are aware of," said Menser. "People have busy lives. Sometimes we forget about what is really important and what isn't. It is nice to know that just to take the time and light your candle for an hour, you are thinking about all those babies up in heaven who never got a chance to live. I think of my Angel all the time, but others should take a moment as well."

 

Menser said she hopes that promoting Oct. 15 as a special day will show that these babies will never be forgotten and each deserves their own special moment.

[floristmom]

Oct. 19, 2010 at 5:13 PM

this is a very special and dear to my heart. I suffered a miscarriage and it would have been twins. Now I have 2 little angels watching over us. Since my miscarriage We now have a healthy little girl who is growing up quickly. I will never forget those 2 little souls. Even 'tho I'm reading this on October 19th I will remember and light a candle later.

Thanks for posting this :)