Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. In honor of my son Cole, I wanted to share a little about this day with my readers. As my life changes and my family grows, there will forever be someone missing, and I appreciate the fact that on this day, people around the world will take some time to remember my son and all the children who are missed every day.

In 2006, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day became official in the eyes of Congress when House Concurrent Resolution # 222 was passed. October has long been recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month, but having a specific date makes for a poignant time of remembrance.

This Remembrance Day is a nationally recognized event, but I know other loss parents around the world who recognize it right along with us here in the United States. Please light a candle at 7 pm in whatever time zone you’re in to remember and honor those lives that were lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS and other causes. If all candles are left to flicker for an hour, there will be a continuous wave of candlelight across the world on the 15th. I know that personally, as a loss mom, it helps to know that others have not forgotten our grief or our children.

My husband and I recognized this day last year in Viet Nam. With the time difference, we arrived in Viet Nam on the evening of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. I had packed a candle and a book of matches before we left, and we lit our remembrance candle in our hotel room before we turned in for the night. The picture above is of the candle we lit that night for Cole and all the babies taken too soon. I wish it wasn’t set in an ash tray (that’s all we could find in our hotel room,) but the thought behind the candle’s flame was there.


For more information please visit the official October 15th website.

Photo © Rebecca Hess 2007

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My Story, Part 1
My Story, Part 2

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