The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn (QEH) is uniting with families and communities around the world taking part in the ‘Wave of Light’ event for Baby Loss Awareness Week.
On Friday 15 October, the Trust’s Arthur Levin Day Surgery will light up at 7pm in distinctive blue and pink colours in memory of the babies lost during pregnancy, birth or shortly afterwards.
‘Wave of Light’ takes place every year on the final day of Baby Loss Awareness Week as families around the world light candles and leave them burning from 7pm. The symbolic gesture aims to raise awareness and open a space for conversations around baby loss.
Throughout the week the Trust will turn one of its trees at the front of the hospital into a memorial tree adorned with butterflies containing names and messages. Patients, staff and visitors are welcome to collect a butterfly from the main reception desk, and add their message before attaching it to the tree. The public can also contact the Trust via its Maternity Facebook or Twitter pages to arrange for a message to be added.
QEH works closely with a number of charities and organisations to offer support and guidance to bereaved families experiencing the loss of their baby.
Building work is currently underway to bring a new Maternity Bereavement Suite to QEH. Named The Butterfly Suite by the local community, the facility will provide a dedicated space for bereaved parents who experience this unimaginable loss either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. The quiet and private area will enable parents time to create precious memories with their baby, in a safe and comfortable environment separate from the clinical setting.
The appeal was launched by the Trust in early 2020 and the redevelopment received the go-ahead following funds raised through generous support of the local community and the Trust’s own charity. The suite is due to open this winter.
Amanda Price-Davey, Head of Midwifery at QEH, said: “I’m pleased that we are able to show our support for Baby Loss Awareness Week. This is an important time of year enabling an outlet of grief for the bereaved parents and families we care for who have experienced the loss of their baby.”
If you would like to support QEH’s Maternity Bereavement Suite appeal, you can give to the appeal online or send cheques payable to ‘Maternity Bereavement Suite Appeal’ to the Finance Department, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gayton Road, King’s Lynn, PE30 4ET. In order to make the suite as homely and comforting as possible for families, fundraising efforts continue to enable the purchase of much-needed furnishings.
To find out more about Baby Loss Awareness Week and the support available, visit babyloss-awareness.org.
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For further information, please contact communicationsqeh@qehkl.nhs.uk.
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