May 2023 Honoree
Maternal Child Health - Bereavement Committee
Abo, Jason RN • Ayres, Debra RN • Besho, Alexa RN • Curry, April RN • Dafick, Debra RN • D’Angelo, Lisa RN • Dechavez, Rowena RN • DelGiodice, Nicole RN • Duperrier, Tiffany Scrub Technician • Duron, Lalaine RN • Encarnacion, Tabitha RN • Faiella, Theresa RN • Francisco, Jaymie RN • Frey, Rebecca RN • Garde, Maria RN • Gerringer, Jamie RN • Hallbauer, Gabriele RN • Harris, Candice RN • Hecker, Stacy RN • Kovacs, Jena RN • Kovaleva, Marina RN • Kucuk, Anna RN • Lamore, Beatrice RN • Lawreszuk, Barbara Scrub Technician • Lee, Sally HUC • Loftus, Susan RN • Loucel, Lysanne Lactation Coordinator • Lyons, Jennifer RN • Mace, Jennybell HUC • Maganza, Bobbie Jo RN • Martin, Kimberley RN • Martinez, Melissa Scrub Technician • Milhazes-Daly, Esther HUC • Moosavi, Narjis RN • Morrell, Lisa RN • Murphy, Allisson RN • Musante, Lisa RN • O'Donnell, Suanne RN • Palmer, Arina RN • Palomba, Diane Supply Coordinator • Reardon, Lisa HUC • Reihing, Carole RN • Rojas, Tierney RN • Ross, Esta RN • Samuel, David Scrub Technician • Scanlon, Larissa RN • Simonetti, Meghan RN • Sison, Lydia RN • Thomaier, Courtney RN • Viola, Yvette RN • Williams Jocelyn RN • Yukhman, Iryna RN
It is my honor to nominate Maternal Child Health for this award based on their nurse-led work on our Perinatal Bereavement committee. This committee has organized and held an Annual Walk to Remember for all of our Bereaved parents and also opens this walk to anyone who wishes to remember a newborn or child that they have lost during pregnancy or after delivery.
There are approximately 12-15 staff members on this committee, currently led by one of our SCN nurses, Esta Ross. This committee fundraises in order to give bereaved parents small tokens of remembrance at the walk as well as giving them a few special items at the time of their loss. These items include a notebook and pen to journal their feelings, windchimes, rosary beads if appropriate, and small plaster molds of their baby’s hand or foot. This committee worked on putting a Bereavement book together to guide staff members in how to work with bereaved parents at the time of the loss, including what to say, what not to say, assisting with funeral arrangements calling clergy, and arranging for photos if the parents wish. We also collect medium size teddy bears to give the mother to hold as she is discharged so that she doesn’t leave with “empty arms”.
The Walk to Remember has been carried out for over 10 years and was even done virtually during Covid, with one of the members livestreaming it on Facebook so that others could participate.
At the walk, we gather in front of the MAB where we have purchased a memorial stone. We then have a clergy member say a prayer, allow parents to speak their child’s name, or say a few words if they wish.
Committee members have taken the time to go and write the baby names in the sand at the beach, take photos, and show them at the walk. We also give them a little goody bag with “Forget me not” flower seeds, a few snacks, and a pen that says “We remember” among other items. The walk proceeds around the hospital ending at the memorial behind the Ambulatory building.
Parents who attend the walk are very appreciative of the chance to remember their child publicly and there are often tears shed between them and the staff who cared for them, some even several years ago. There are also happy moments as parents bring their rainbow babies to be a part of the walk. A rainbow baby is one who is born to parents after a perinatal loss.
The dedication of the staff to planning and organizing this walk every year is tremendous. There are even staff members who have retired or moved to different positions, that still attend this walk every year.
The Maternal Child Health Department is a true DAISY Team for recognizing parents’ loss and giving them a special way of remembering their babies gone too soon.
There are approximately 12-15 staff members on this committee, currently led by one of our SCN nurses, Esta Ross. This committee fundraises in order to give bereaved parents small tokens of remembrance at the walk as well as giving them a few special items at the time of their loss. These items include a notebook and pen to journal their feelings, windchimes, rosary beads if appropriate, and small plaster molds of their baby’s hand or foot. This committee worked on putting a Bereavement book together to guide staff members in how to work with bereaved parents at the time of the loss, including what to say, what not to say, assisting with funeral arrangements calling clergy, and arranging for photos if the parents wish. We also collect medium size teddy bears to give the mother to hold as she is discharged so that she doesn’t leave with “empty arms”.
The Walk to Remember has been carried out for over 10 years and was even done virtually during Covid, with one of the members livestreaming it on Facebook so that others could participate.
At the walk, we gather in front of the MAB where we have purchased a memorial stone. We then have a clergy member say a prayer, allow parents to speak their child’s name, or say a few words if they wish.
Committee members have taken the time to go and write the baby names in the sand at the beach, take photos, and show them at the walk. We also give them a little goody bag with “Forget me not” flower seeds, a few snacks, and a pen that says “We remember” among other items. The walk proceeds around the hospital ending at the memorial behind the Ambulatory building.
Parents who attend the walk are very appreciative of the chance to remember their child publicly and there are often tears shed between them and the staff who cared for them, some even several years ago. There are also happy moments as parents bring their rainbow babies to be a part of the walk. A rainbow baby is one who is born to parents after a perinatal loss.
The dedication of the staff to planning and organizing this walk every year is tremendous. There are even staff members who have retired or moved to different positions, that still attend this walk every year.
The Maternal Child Health Department is a true DAISY Team for recognizing parents’ loss and giving them a special way of remembering their babies gone too soon.
Thank you for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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