A Charity that Helps Parents, Friends, Families & Professionals
- 27-12-09

By Nicole Ballinger
If your baby has died through miscarriage, stillbirth or neo natal death, you have our sincere condolences. Here at PILARI, most of our contributing authors have all shared this same tragedy: we know, first hand, how shattering this grief is. You are no longer alone.
Please feel free to explore our website: it’s brimming with ideas, wisdom, support and resources for people who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. New articles are submitted to this website frequently.
But you may feel you need to meet other bereaved parents, too. Many parents have found that they overcame their grief more quickly by joining support groups.
There are groups for survivors of pregnancy and infant loss across the world. Some of the newest are in Australia, run by Bears of Hope. This charity already runs groups in Sydney, Dubbo and the Hunter Valley NSW. In 2010, their first group will start in the ACT.
Amanda Bowles and Toni Tattis are the Directors of Bears of Hope. They have also lost babies, so they too understand the depth of shock, disbelief and sorrow. I met these dynamic women recently, and was impressed by their tireless efforts and their dedication to helping others.
Bears of Hope also helps friends, families, doctors and other professionals who care about grieving parents. The loss of a baby affects many people, typically creating feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness. So when a baby is lost to our friend, family member or patient, we often wish we could do something to help them, somehow.
Now we can. As a charity, Bears of Hope accepts donations that go directly to helping bereaved parents. You can help by: making a donation; purchasing an inexpensive teddy bear (that Bears of Hope will send as a gift to grieving parents); or by attending their annual charity ball.
To find out more, visit their website. Thank you for caring.
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