The death of a child is almost incomprehensible. This is true whether a child has been living for many years, or several weeks, or a few minutes and even if the baby has died in the womb. Such pain wounds the heart so deeply that it never completely heals. Parents only learn to "live with" their loss; they never get over it.

Since 1975, the Birth Center and NICU have offered support to grieving parents who have lost a child by miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. For the last fifteen years, the Together Learning to Cope (TLC) Committee has directed this process. Several employees also have assisted with the support group and other aspects of the program. We are very grateful for the loving care and guidance our colleagues have given to bereaved parents.

We want to take this opportunity to share with you some changes that we feel will enhance our continuing support for parents experiencing the loss of a child. Formerly, TLC has been an open-ended, self-directed support group. However, beginning September 2008, TLC will transition to an educational and supportive approach, focusing on a specific issue of grief each week.

Some of the topics will include:

1. Grief Is Unique: Sharing Our Stories
2. The Myriad Of Emotions
3. A Father's Grief
   Siblings Grieve, Too
4. Grandparents' Hearts Break Twice
   The Changing Dynamics Of Friendships
5. Celebrations Are Colored With Grief
6. Spirituality: Searching For Meaning In Loss
7. Complicated Grief and Resources
8. Memorializing: A Way to Remember, A Way to Grieve

We will utilize hand-outs, journaling, video clips, art, music, poetry, prose, photos and personal sharing to further understand and support each person's journey of mourning.

This new format will be offered the second Tuesday of every month from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Saint Joseph's Hospital.

Pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact one of the following departments:

The Birth Center (Lucy Cannon) at 387-7071
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Julie Drexler) at 387-7083
Spiritual Services (Rebecca Belt) at 387-7753

We are excited about our improved format for the TLC Support Group. Our desire is to provide a more significant and specific type of support for our parents who are grieving. Regardless of when you lost your baby, recently or long ago, you are invited to call and join us.

The TLC Committee