Freddy and David for the Sunbeam Support Group

(For Children and Adults to Read)

Freddy (6) has asked to decided to attempt the Inflatable 5k obstacle course in Leeds on 29th June( with David Daddy). Freddy wants to do something positive in memory of Wilf and Erin, to make a difference , and to have something good, positive and helpful come from something sad. He'd be really grateful for your support.

He has chosen Aching Arms ( see Just Giving page)and the Sunbeam Support Group. We are hoping for a 50/50 split, roughly. This page is for the Sunbeam Support Group, who look after families who need their help at the hospital.

FOR GROWN UPS ONLY(to explain if/as they see fit, to any interested children).....

.

.

.

The Sunbeam Support Group is an amazing support group at Airedale hospital for families who experience baby loss. From the moment a family hear those earth shattering words "I'm sorry there's no heartbeat" , and the world stops spinning, they are there to scoop you up. They provide a lifeline of support to women, couples and families who's baby's have died during pregnancy, at birth and shortly after, as well as families who become pregnant again- a journey filled with many emotions. It is an invaluable community and space for people to support each other. It is run with the support and care of two incredible Berevement Midwives Bev and Gemma. As well as personal support for couples and families, there are monthly meetings and a special private garden for families to visit whenever they choose , with a summer house and meeting room as well as rememberance tree where families can remember their baby/s with an engraved leaf.

They run events throughout the year for people to mark difficult occasions and remember their babies, such as Christmas, Mother's and Father's Day and Baby Loss Awareness Week. They run therapeutic workshops and craft sessions. They hold memorial events. They also fund the stocking of the specialist Berevement Room for pregnant people and their partners to stay in whilst they are giving birth, so that they don't have to be alongside people with living babies. This includes a special cold cot, homely interior, kitchen and living area and en suite, a small outside area, a book for families to share stories and send each other messages of support, special books to support people with grief, emotional healing, understanding the process and investigations physically, books for any living children , journals that support you following baby loss, books for you to make positive memories with your baby( should you wish to). The list goes on. They also source Memory Boxes for families, keep a book of babies birthdays to send cards annually to families that would like them, and help mark occasions through the year with things such as flowers on Mother's Day for mothers who's baby isn't alive to give them themselves, and rememberance baubles at Christmas. They also offer so much kindness, compassion, an ever listening ear.

This is a group who are absolutely vital to the well-being of families in the local area who experience the loss of their baby/ies, and they understand more than most what it is to walk with people who have lost their children as babies. We are all keen to pay it forward to other families unfortunate enough to find themselves in our position. Freddy is leading the way with this, taking it upon himself to make a difference.

In discussion with the Sunbeam Support Group, we also hope to use some of your donations to source some smaller sized boxes for families to take their baby home with them, should they choose, to spend time with them, or to bury/ cremate them, if they are born before 24 weeks. There is currently nothing specific available, and sourcing a box, or using their newly gifted memory box or repurposing something out their hospital bag, is not something a family should have to think about when preparing to walk off labour ward with their precious baby in a box.

Things have changed immensely for the better in the care of families experiencing the death of their baby- and this is in no small part thanks to the tireless work of those who care, personally, or have walked that path. We'd appreciate your support to help us to help others in some of their very worst days.

Thank you.