Staff Show Overwhelming Support to Families at Remembrance Service
Nearly 100 parents, children, relatives and BWH employees came together in October at the fourth annual Service of Remembrance to support families who have experienced perinatal loss. This service enables families to return to BWH to remember their babies and meet other families who have experienced similar loss. This year, the service had its highest attendance.
“Many doctors and nurses from the NICU and Labor and Delivery came in on their day off to support these families,” said Sandra Harmon, BSN, RN, assistant nurse manager of the NICU and co-chair of the Perinatal Bereavement Committee, along with Leslie Morette, BSN, RN, nurse in-charge of the Center for Labor and Birth. “It was really touching.”
Each family received a star on which they could write their child’s name, a message or any sentiment they wished. During the ceremony, they placed the stars on a blue felt board imaging the heavens.
Chief of Newborn Medicine Steven Ringer, MD, PhD, and Angelleen Peters-Lewis, PhD, RN, director of Women and Newborn’s Nursing and Clinical Services, gave opening remarks, and members of the Perinatal Bereavement Committee read poems of reflection. A guitar soloist played softly during the service. Each family was invited to write in the Book of Remembrance that Chaplaincy keeps. Afterward, families chatted with each other and staff during a reception in the Peter Bent Brigham Rotunda.