Beaumont's Bereavement Room Helps Parents After Loss of Child

The death of an infant or child is a lasting tragedy. For the families of babies who die at in Royal Oak, a special bereavement room on the labor and delivery floor has been created, thanks to an organization called Angel Kisses.

Anna La Fountain, whose daughter, Scarlette Rose, was stillborn at 19 weeks gestation, founded Angel Kisses three years ago to help mothers with the healing process after the loss of a child. The group has raised more than $52,000 to date. Some of that money was used to create the bereavement room at Beaumont.

“This room came together because these women had losses, and they wanted to give something back and have a memory of their baby,” said Joanne Mulhere, a high-risk obstetrics social worker at Beaumont. Mulhere conducts a loss support group at the hospital.

The room is a place for parents and family to spend quiet time with children they lose in the hospital before making funeral arrangements.

“The families really like the room because it gives them a place where it is quiet and they can talk about what is going on,” Mulhere said. “We provide families with information packets on how they can help the mother when she goes home. We also have information in the room on how to help grieving fathers and siblings.”

The room has special lighting so photographs may be taken by a professional photographer or nurse.

A memory box to place items, such as hats and body wraps, that have touched the baby is created with the help of hospital staff. The memory box also includes frames for photographs and footprints.

“It’s such a short time parents have to spend with their baby,” Mulhere said. “The sad part is that parents have the whole first year of their baby’s life planned. They feel their dreams are gone. The memory boxes are very helpful for them.”

Helping parents after a baby dies

No one is ever prepared for the loss of a child, Mulhere said. If you know someone who is grieving, here are some things she said you could do to help them through the healing process:

• Call the baby by his or her name.
• Encourage the parents to talk and be a good listener.
• Offer to bring food, shop or clean for the grieving parents.
• Send cards or flowers.
• Remember the baby at anniversaries and holidays, which can be difficult times for the parents.

Never say “God must have needed an angel” or “This must have happened because there was something wrong with the baby,” Mulhere said. While people have good intentions, she said remarks such as these are insensitive. The best thing to say is “I’m sorry for your loss” and leave it at that, she said.

Angel Kisses events

At 4 p.m. Wednesday,  Angel Kisses will unveil a statue at Berkley's in the area where many stillborn children are interred.

On Saturday Feb. 25, join parents and the founders of Angel Kisses at in Royal Oak from 2-8 p.m. Woody's is donating 20 percent of all sales to the organization.

Angel Kisses is seeking donations for raffles and a silent auction. If you are interested in donating items, please contact tracyroberts@angelkisses.com.

Correction: The date of the fundraiser at Woody's Diner is Feb. 25.