The month of October is best known as Breast Cancer Awareness month.
However, there is another important cause that is remembered during this month and it is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness.
According to firstcandle.org, every year in the United States, there are 26,000 stillbirths and 4,000 infants younger than one year that die unexpectedly.
Last Wednesday, Oct. 15 was Remembrance Day. At 7 p.m. I lit candles for two special babies.
I never met my niece and nephew. They were born too soon at about 20 weeks into my sister’s pregnancies.
There are many women out there who suffer from miscarriages, carry a stillborn baby to full-term or lose their infant quite suddenly without any rhyme or reason.
Before my sister lost her children, I never realized that this month was also dedicated to families suffering these losses.
Although I have not experienced childbirth or the loss of a child, witnessing the pain that my sister and brother-in-law experienced was heartbreaking.
It was a shock and a sad time for both our families.
My sister reached out to other mothers who had similar experiences and I believe it helped her to cope.
Bringing awareness to any type of cancer is very important, but let’s take time before this month ends to remember the mothers and fathers that are hurting and missing the infants that were taken from them too soon.
Tragedies like these are never easy to talk about, but your story may help someone else. Share your story with others, it may bring them comfort.
Visit the website www.firstcandle.org to learn more about grief support or call 1-800-221-7437 to speak to a counselor.
Learn more about healthy babies research efforts at www.marchofdimes.org.