For families who have experienced an infant loss through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or neonatal death, the holidays can often be an especially difficult time, making the loss feel even greater.
A special ThedaCare service aims to help parents through this time by offering a chance to honor their child and to build connections with other parents who are experiencing a similar grief.
The Resolve Through Sharing Candlelight Memorial service, planned for Dec. 18, 2024, recognizes the memories of babies who have died through neonatal complications, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, or miscarriage. The event will be held at the Best Western Bridgewood Resort and Conference Center at 100 Cameron Way in Neenah. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with the service starting at 7 p.m.
The event is meant to help families memorialize their child and to know that there are many others who understand their grief, said Ashley Ebert, Family Birth Care Charge RN and Resolve Through Sharing Bereavement Coordinator for ThedaCare.
“Our hope is that we’re bringing these families together to allow them to memorialize a part of their life that might not always be recognized or truly understood by others,” Ebert said. “We want to provide a day for these families to take time, and recognize what they have experienced. It’s also a time to support other parents who maybe haven’t had as much time to process or heal from their loss.”
Particularly with the loss of a pregnancy, it’s often difficult to find a special day to honor the child.
“Many times, this kind of loss is often silent or unspoken,” Ebert said. “For example, there are a lot of families who go through an early miscarriage when others never knew they were pregnant. It can be a complicated type of grief.”
The event helps families see how others have managed to adapt to the loss of a pregnancy or an infant, and move forward, even while still carrying the grief and honoring the loss.
“Each year we invite a reflection speaker who is someone who shares their experience of loss,” Ebert said. “They share their story of pregnancy, loss and where they are now in their life, allowing others to share in their experience.”
After that portion of the service, each family will be invited to the front of the ballroom where they can light a candle for their child and place it on a special candelabra display at the front of the room.
“The display is absolutely beautiful, and is a special way for families to remember their children and understand how many people share a similar kind of grief,” Ebert said.
Families will be gifted a rose and an angel ornament.
“Many families who attend annually look forward to adding an angel ornament to their Christmas tree each year,” Ebert said.
Parents who attend are also invited to bring an unwrapped toy in memory of their baby. Toys will be donated to the Salvation Army of the Fox Valley to be distributed to needy families in the area for Christmas. The Resolve Through Sharing program also has an Amazon Wish List here that helps support the program and provide memorial items to families who are experiencing a loss.
A ThedaCare chaplain, as well as bereavement coordinators, will be available to talk to families prior to and following the event. ThedaCare also will have a variety of support handouts available to grieving families. Ebert noted there are options of assistance for anyone who is struggling.
Families who are unable to attend the event can send their mailing address to RTS@thedacare.org and an angel ornament will be sent to them. Please email or call the Resolve Through Sharing Bereavement coordinators at 920.454.5956 with any questions.
ThedaCare is holding the Resolve Through Sharing Candlelight Memorial service on Dec. 18, 2024. The event recognizes the memories of babies who have died through neonatal complications, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, or miscarriage. The event will be held at the Best Western Bridgewood Resort and Conference Center at 100 Cameron Way in Neenah. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with the service starting at 7 p.m.
Families who attend the Resolve Through Sharing Candlelight Memorial service are invited to bring an unwrapped toy in memory of their baby. Toys will be donated to the Salvation Army of the Fox Valley to be distributed to needy families in the area for Christmas.
