Newsletter September 2010
Befrienders
Jo-Anna, Kathryn, Jenny and Debbie
Committee
Jo-Anna - Group Co-ordinator/Scottish Network Liaison/Training
Kathryn - Treasurer/Inscriptions/website
Nichola - Secretary/Press
Christine - Hospital Liaison & Training
Clare - Hospital Liaison & Training
Jenny - Fundraising Co-ordinator
Debbie – Events Co-ordinator
Susan - Grants
Teresa
****New Contact Details****
Our new telephone number is 08455280322
Our new Postal address is
Fife Sands, PO Box 29210, Dunfermline KY12 2BS
Monthly Support Group Meetings
29th October – Holiday Inn Express, Dunfermline
26th November – The Downie Lounge, Kirkcaldy
Next Pregnancy Support Group
If you would like support during a subsequent pregnancy, please check the website for up to date information.
“There is no right or wrong way to do the work of grieving. There is only your way, and you must discover it for yourself. There is no magic formula, no short cut, and no easy way out. Grief is like a long, winding tunnel whose entrance is closed behind you, and the only way out is through.”
Martha M. Tousley RN MS CS
If you have any contributions for the next edition, please submit them to us by 30th October 2010
New Office
This has been a very busy few months for us – as you know we have been looking for new office premises since we were relocated within the hospital. We are pleased to say that we have finally found suitable accommodation. As of the beginning of September, we have relocated to Unit 36, Rosyth Business Centre in Cromarty Campus at Rosyth Dockyard. We have a lovely bright office which we hope to make good use of – it is a much more convenient location for Jo-Anna which will enable her to spend less time travelling and more time actually in the office, and Kathryn & Debbie are able to help out. We will still be using the PO Box as our mailing address, but if anyone wants to pop down for a coffee and a chat, please feel free to contact us to arrange an appointment.
Monthly Support Group Meetings
Again, we have spent much time over the past couple of years trying to find suitable alternative venues for the support group meetings. We were lucky to have the use of Seal House in Dunfermline which has been our “home” for the past year. Sadly, we have outgrown the room there and have had to look elsewhere. It has been very difficult to find somewhere at an easy to reach location that could accommodate our times without charging huge amounts. After a morning of driving round Dunfermline, we visited the Holiday Inn Express, opposite Asda. We have booked it for the foreseeable future, starting in October, although we will review this regularly. We hope people won’t be put off by the thought of a hotel, but the meeting room is just inside the entrance and we will endeavour to meet people at the door. There is ample parking and it is on the main bus route into Dunfermline from the East of Fife.
We have tried Evans Business centre in Kirkcaldy for the meetings but unfortunately they couldn’t guarantee us access for every meeting so we moved back to the hospital. We had the use of the Seminar Room there for a couple of meetings but this was then turned into a Doctors’ room and we were back in the Parentcraft room - a good sized room, but unsuitable for a number of reasons. In November we are trying a new venue – the Downie Lounge on Kirk Wynd. Again, we will review this regularly, but hope that this will turn into a long term venue. The Downie Lounge is situated between the hairdressers and bridal salon, just up from the Fife Free Press office – the door is set back from the pavement, but we will have someone at the door to welcome you. The Fife Free Press have kindly agreed to us using their private car park which can be accessed via Hill Street.
The meetings will continue to start from 7.30pm, and we need to vacate both premises by 10pm.
The Tuesday Club
We had been thinking of extending the next pregnancy group to include the bumps for up to six months after baby has arrived safely, but following on from this a new group evolved. The Tuesday Club is an informal lunch club where mums and dads can meet up with their kids to enjoy each others' company and to help support each other through parenthood. The group meets mainly in The Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy every Tuesday between 1 and 3pm, weather permitting. If wet, an indoor venue will be arranged. Bring your own lunch and your wee ones (no age limit). For more information, please call Clare on 07980443523
New Arrivals
Huge congratulations to
Clare and Pug on the safe arrival of Sadie, born on the 1st June. A gorgeous little sister for Archie and the much missed Alfie.
Sara and Michael on the safe arrival of Aoife. A beautiful little sister to Toby and the late Max.
Balloon Release
Our annual balloon release was held on 20th June in Lochore Meadows. The weather was kind to us this year and we had a wonderful turnout. We released 79 white heart shaped balloons to represent the number of babies who were stillborn or died within 4 weeks of birth in 2009. We also had pink & blue heart shaped balloons for parents and other family members who attended the event to write a message on before putting them in our balloon net. At 2pm, the balloons were released and, as ever, it was a very emotional few minutes as we watched the balloons float upwards.
Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving
The August service, held on 22nd August was on the theme of Angels. Readings were done by Skye & Breege and the music used for the reflection was Katherine Jenkins singing In the Arms of an Angel. Messages were written on heart shaped cards wrapped in wings which were placed on our copper tree in exchange for an Angel memento.
Donations
£25 from William & Wilma on behalf of their niece, Alison
£200 from the Rotary Club of Kirkcaldy Charitable Trust Account
£770.64 from Mike & Cathy, family & friends in memory of Cameron
this was 25% of the total raised, the remainder 75% going to National.
£1000 from Royal London in Edinburgh
£1000 from Fife Constabulary Charities Fund
£231.14 donated in memory of John's wife Anne
£40 from customers at The Novar Bar, Kirkcaldy
£60 from Mr & Mrs T Ruddy
£206.50 donated in memory of angels of DIA08 Mummies – Claire was sponsored by them to stop smoking – well done Claire!
£350 plus Gift Aid of £98.72 from Jemma “In memory of our beautiful baby boy, Archie born asleep 29.09.2010”
£1000 from Greggs the Bakers Charity Committee – we were nominated by Sandra of the Duloch branch in memory of her grandson Joseph
A huge thank you to all our supporters – your donations and fundraisers are very much appreciated and are vital to the group as it is our only source of income.
Fundraising
Congratulations and well done to Olive and family completed a sponsored walk across the Forth Road Bridge on 26th September. Thank you.
Well done and grateful thanks to Caroline and Mairi who ran the Great North Run in memory of Caroline's niece, Jessica – money raised so far is over £600
Natali and her friend Amanda ran the 2010 Great Scottish Run 10K on 5th September to raise money for Sands in memory of Natali and Brian's son, Jamie. Brian also has been running, raising money for Tommy's. Natali and Amanda have raised £2078 – fantastic, ladies!
Oompah Nacht
The Star Varian Oompah Nacht raised the total sum of £1812.23
The following is from Aileen & family who organised the event.
“We as a family are overwhelmed by the generosity shown by all our friends & family in helping us to raise funds for this charity which is very close to our hearts.”
The money was raised in memory of Aileen's grandaughter Emily, daughter of Vicki & Derry
The Cameron Cup
On the 20th August Mike & Cathy hosted The Cameron Cup, a golfing event at Kinross, in memory of their son Cameron. Following the golf, there was a wonderful meal at the Windlestrae Hotel, before an auction of a wide range of fabulous items hosted by the jockey Peter Scudamore. Peter did a fabulous job of extracting money from the assembled audience! After the raffles were drawn there was a disco to finish off the evening.
The Cameron Cup, thanks to Cathy, Mike, their family and friends raised an amazing amount of money for us – £5090! This is a phenomenal amount of money and again we would like to thank everyone who donated prizes, attended the event and gave their time and money so generously to support Cathy & Mike in Cameron's memory.
The girl you once knew
The heaviness has lifted, my vision far more clear
My head is no longer mangled up, with the pain and fear.
It's not that I don't feel it,
It's not that its not real.
Like a deep welt knitted together,
These wounds could never heal.
At any given moment, at any point at all
This welt could burst open and my grief could overspill.
But still I carry on walking, I hold my head up high
There is no outward notice of the turmoil in my mind.
I blend into your normality, unassuming and with ease.
The person that you think I am, is what I let you see.
I learned like a scholar at hiding what I feel
I excelled ever so quickly in masking all my tears.
I'd rather deal with this alone than knowing you hate to hear;
The way I miss my daughter, how I wish I had her near
Your face it tells a story, it says more than you know
Its says I make you awkward, it says oh just move on.
Forwards I may walk now but in past I shall remain
Holding my tiny daughter , engulfed in all this pain.
For my smile it is painted and my eyes are dark as coal
For gods sake can't you see, the aching in my soul?
Its easy to ignore it, easy to forget.
But have you ever stopped to notice where the girl you once knew went?
Birthdays
Remembering all our babies, particularly those whose birthdays are approaching. We hope these days pass peacefully for you.
-
Charlie
11/11/03
Alfie Finnus
12/11/07
Thomas
14/11/05
Callan David
16/11/07
Maddison Carol-Ann
20/11/08
Cody
29/11/08
Danni
02/12/07
Nairn
02/12/08
Lukas Michael
18/12/08
Sophie
18/12/09
Ryan & Adam
04/01/06
Andrew
06/01/08
Ryan Henry
10/01/07
Max
20/01/07
Niall Gavin
23/01/06
Ronan James
26/01/02