I’m thrilled to announce that I have again been shortlisted in this year’s Butterfly Awards, a prestigious annual event which focuses on recognising and celebrating organisations and individuals who work tirelessly to raise awareness of early pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal death and provide much needed support services for bereaved parents. Rev’d David Southall, Chaplain of the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, has been shortlisted in the Bereavement Worker category and I’ve been shortlisted in the Inspirational Mother category.
The red carpet event, which will be held on Saturday 10th October 2015 at the Bank House Hotel in Worcestershire, was created by Mel Scott and Jade Deverill of Healthcare & Babyloss Services and is a beautiful and inspirational ceremony which brings awareness of early pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal death, a topic which is all too often hidden away, and give special recognition to those who work hard in this area to help and comfort those who have sadly lost a much wanted baby, at any stage of pregnancy or post-birth. The awards raise money for the charity “Towards Tomorrow Together” as well as awareness of early pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal death. The event, although only 3 years old, is already attracting international attention and celebrity support.
For me though there are no winners in baby loss, especially in the Inspirational Mother and Inspirational Father categories, but the Butterfly Awards are so important to raise much needed awareness of early pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal death. These topics are at the forefront of many people’s minds at the moment with the current storyline in “Eastenders” of Shabnam and Kush losing their much wanted and loved baby to stillbirth. Just as they were in the soap, my husband Russell and I were full of hopes and dreams when we found out we were expecting our son Frankie, only to have them shattered into a million pieces when he was born sleeping in November 2013. 1 in 4 women experience early pregnancy loss or stillbirth and I aim to break the silence of this and talk about our son and keep his memory alive through the campaigns I work on and blogging to raise awareness of early pregnancy loss, stillbirth and life after loss. I also had no hesitation in nominating Rev’d David Southall for a Butterfly Award, his support and compassion when we lost Frankie was incredible and if it wasn’t for him I would have been in a much darker place when I lost Frankie. He gave me so much spiritual guidance and support, and continues to do so today.
Public voting for us in the Bereavement Worker and Inspirational Mother categories is open until 9pm on Monday 21st September 2015 via these links:
http://www.thebutterflyawards.com/index.php/voting/userprofile/1334
http://www.thebutterflyawards.com/index.php/voting/userprofile/frankieslegacy2015
More information can be found by visiting www.thebutterflyawards.com.
Please consider popping over and giving us a vote, it is SO important to raise awareness of these topics that are not talked about anywhere near as much as they should be.
