The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

September 20, 2009

RGH’s Walk to Remember slated next month

By Courtney D. Clark

Each year, 870,000 babies die through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, still birth and newborn death.

In memory of those infants and children who have been lost, Raleigh General Hospital will host its 11th annual Walk to Remember on Oct. 3.

“Parents, family members and friends will be given the opportunity to walk and share their experiences,” Kathy Ball, chairperson of the bereavement committee, said. “The whole family loses the baby, not just the mother. So this walk is for anyone who has felt the effects of a miscarriage, perinatal birth demise or any loss of a baby soon after birth.”

The event will begin at noon with a welcome from Shauna Boggs, followed by invocation by the Rev. Adeeb Khalil.

“Khalil has prayer, but also talks about how his mother lost a baby that he didn’t know about until his 50s,” Ball continued, “and how she still mourns.”

According to Kathy Bailey, education instructor and lactation consultant at RGH, President Ronald Reagan named October as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and the Walk to Remember has been designated as the first Saturday in October all over the country.

“The October Walk to Remember is an opportunity to pause and remember the infants and children whose short lives touched the lives of their families and friends,” Bailey said. “It’s a time of sharing joyful memories and a time of honoring those lost.”

At 12:30 p.m., parents, friends, families and professionals will make the procession to the memory garden.

“Anyone who is remembering an infant or child can write their name and anything else they want on a beautiful cloth butterfly,” Bailey continued. “As Janet McNeal reads the poem ‘A Walk to Remember,’ they can attach their butterflies to the tree in the memory garden. A white balloon will be released for each infant or child, along with two white doves.”

Dr. Ahmed Khiami and Boggs will provide reflections at 1 p.m. after a recession from the garden back to the Education Center.

“Parents or anyone else can provide reflections at that time,” Ball said. “We want everyone to talk and share their experiences about how they felt, how they handled it, what they did that helped and what didn’t help. It really helps with the grieving process.”

“The other thing we do is have a table set up inside where parents and families can bring pictures and mementos, if they choose, and share those with the other parents,” Bailey added. “Most really enjoy it.”

The event will wrap up around 2 p.m. with music and refreshments.

“You don’t have to sign up to come, just show up,” Ball said. “The Education Center is on the left side of Raleigh General Hospital, and an escort will be at the front of the hospital as well.”

For more information, call RGH Labor and Delivery at 304-256-4394.

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