A Medway charity are supporting Baby Loss Awareness across the UK
Making Miracles have been hosting events in both Rochester and Rainham
Families affected by baby loss are invited to gather in Rochester tonight, 15th October, for a candlelit event to remember their babies.
Making Miracles is hosting a Wave of Light gathering at its Baby Memorial Garden on Borstal Road at 7pm.
The event forms part of Baby Loss Awareness Week, with families around the world invited to light candles at 7pm local time and leave them burning for at least one hour.
People attending the Rochester gathering can light a candle, write their baby’s name on a remembrance board and spend time reflecting together while music plays.
The charity welcomes anyone coming to remember, support someone else or simply be present.
Pink and blue umbrellas in Rainham
Making Miracles has also created a remembrance display at St Margaret’s Church on High Street in Rainham, a tradition they have been running for six years in the area, with attendees visiting from London and further afield.
Speaking to Hits and Greatest Hits Radio Kent, organiser Kelly Wells said:
"Six years ago, we aligned with one of our local churches who had a fantastic vicar up there who'd also experienced baby loss and offered it as kind of like a haven for people to come to in the community and beyond to see an amazing pink and blue umbrella display, which we erect within the church itself.
"When you walk in, it feels like you're in some kind of Disney film. It's totally surreal. There's all these umbrellas hanging from the rafters in the ceiling with babies' names on little hearts hanging from the umbrellas.
"It's just a really beautiful space to come and remember and find comfort in one another, because there's usually a good group of people in the church at the same time.
"We held a remembrance service there on Sunday. We had about 120 people there that were just coming together to remember their babies. We light candles, we listened to nice music. We just want to create a space that anyone can come."
She added that the space is open to anyone who has suffered the loss of a baby up to one year old, including those who may have historically been unable to discuss their losses:
"We have the elderly turning up who have never written their child's name down before because it was brushed under the carpet back then.
"And they see us, they turn up and they have that connection they've never been allowed to experience before.
"And it is absolutely beautiful to see because although it's heartbreaking, that has been carried with them for years and they've never had anywhere to go and be accepted and heard.
"And now they do."
Support beyond awareness week
Kelly said the charity’s events give families space to talk about their babies and connect with others who understand their loss.
Making Miracles supports parents, grandparents, siblings and the wider family through counselling, memorial items and a podcast.
She encouraged friends and relatives to listen, ask what someone needs and avoid comments which minimise their grief:
"Just watch your language, be open and willing to discuss and ask what they need and be there for them. Just listen.
"Sometimes there are no words, you know, and we as a society try and fill space of silence with words and then the words are usually quite wrong or offending.
"The intentions are good, but it can sometimes make things worse.
"So I think, 'what do you need? I'm here. I'm sorry for your loss. I will do whatever I can to support you' are pretty good places to start."
Though founded in Medway, the charity now have national and even international reach, with a hope that their message will be heard by more people.