University Hospital Galway is holding a memorial candle lighting ceremony next Sunday to mark International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day.
International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day is celebrated all over the world with a ‘Wave of Light’ on the 15 October at 7pm across all time zones.
UHG is holding its own ceremony two days before this at the hospital canteen in the nurse’s home next Sunday, October 13 at 3:30pm.
As part of the service participants will be invited to light a candle in memory of their baby who has died.
If they wish they can then take the candle home and light it again at 7pm on October 15 and join in the international ‘Wave of Light’.
Clinical Midwifery Manager Helen Byrnes said, “As part of International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day we would like to invite parents and their families who have experienced grief through the death of a baby to a special candle lighting ceremony in memory of those babies who have died through miscarriage, stillbirth or in the neonatal period.”
“While our maternity department is generally associated with happy times for families we are also here when a precious life ends.”
To honour the solemn international event University Hospital Galway will also be joining 30 buildings around Ireland in lighting up part of the building in blue and pink.
Anne Brady, Bereavement and Loss Midwife at UHG said, “This will be the third year we have invited families to attend our service.”
“From the positive response we have received following our last two services we have come to understand and really appreciate the supportive value of the event for families, their extended families and the staff who care for them during their stay with us here in University Hospital Galway.”
“We would like to invite anyone who has been affected by the loss of a baby to join us on a day when we take time out to reflect and remember.”
“It’s also a good opportunity for bereaved families to come together as a support for each other to talk and share their experiences over a cuppa.”
