#PaIL - October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month
"When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isnât a word to describe them." - Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States
October is recognized as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month to both recognize the loss so many parents experience across the United States and around the world, and to inform and provide resources for parents who have lost children due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirths, birth defects, and other causes. October 15th is observed as Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PaIL) Awareness Day around the world. The official Awareness Colors of the cause are light pink and baby blue and are synonymous with the campaigns awareness ribbon. There are several planned activities remaining for the month of October. Please feel free to join us.
We remember our babies gone too soon!
At exactly 7:00PM, on October 15th, people all around the world join together in the International Wave of Light, by lighting a candle and keeping it lit for one hour. It is said âas the sunlight moves around the globe, so does the candlelight, creating a Wave in honor of perinatal loss.â See http://www.october15th.com/ for more information on PaIL Awareness day and the International Wave of Light.
Memorial Garden Dedication
Join us, as we stand with the Western New York Perinatal Bereavement Network (WNYPBN) in dedicating the new Wings of Love Memorial Garden in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The Memorial Garden will provide foundation for a peaceful, permanent, commemorative place for parents experiencing child loss.
Dedication will take place on Monday, October 15, 2018 at 11:00 AM. Forest Lawn Cemetery, 1411 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY. A reception will follow.
WNYPBN continues to raise funds for the completion of the Forest Lawn Memorial Garden, as the monument, benches and flora are quite elaborate. If you would like to assist in their efforts to create these beautiful and contemplative places where families can commune with their babies gone too soon, please consider donating.
If youâre interested in purchasing a memorial marker or paver please fill out the form(s) below and return with full payment (checks made WNYPBN/Wings of Love) to:
WNYPBN, Inc.
30 S. Cayuga Rd.-Lower
Williamsville, NY 14221
More information can be found here.
Landmark Lights
On October 15, 2018, the Peace Bridge, portions of Canalside Buffalo and Niagara Falls (between 10PM and 10:15PM) will be lit in Pink and Blue to honor our babies gone too soon.
Care Packages
We are also preparing to send out our first Care Package! It has been a goal of the foundation to be able to send Care Packages to families experiencing grief and loss. Care Packages are complimentary but also limited in quantity. This can change with your help. Please consider donating to Sponsor a Care Package! Information can be found here: https://www.clarkehill.org/carepackages/.
PaIL Awareness on Social Media
Please post pictures of your Wave of Light honorary candles, Landmark Lights, WNYPBN Billboard, or Wings of Love Monument on Social Media with #PaILAwareness2018 and/or #WNYPBN. We have partnered with WNYPBN to provide a $20 Gift Card, in loving memory of Cameron W. Hill. Any and all posts will be entered into a drawing for one of two $20 gift card (Retailers, such as Target), provided in loving memory of our babies gone too soon.
Our Birthday
The Clarke Hill Foundation was formed, October 20, 2016, with an understanding of the unique needs of families to prematurely-born infants and those experiencing the pain of infant loss due to complications of premature birth. We have worked diligently towards a helping to create a healthier future for babies and a hopeful present for parents and families. We look forward to our future in supporting and advocating for parents and preemies and raising awareness. This is made possible by your support.
We cannot say it enough, but THANK YOU!