International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

Tigerlily Trust Remembrance Celebration 2016

Venue: Outback Hall, Leven Valley CE Primary School, Backbarrow, Ulverston, Cumbria. LA12 8QF
Saturday October 15th 2016 - 6.45pm Start

International Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day + Global Wave of Light

We invite you to join us along with family and friends for a very special evening remembering and celebrating all our babies and children gone to soon.
On this special date, International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, we will light candles and be part of the global wave of light around the world. It will be an evening of remembering and honouring our babies, sharing and connecting with those who have travelled this path and those who helping us to travel it, a beautiful celebration with loved ones, our families and friends. 

If you would like to come along, please join our event on Facebook - Tigerlily Trust Remembrance Celebration to help us prepare for accommodating you.
Come early to allow time for candle lighting 6.15pm should give ample time for you to arrive gently and settle in.
There will be tea and coffee afterwards and time to talk and connect with each other.
This year we are at a larger venue to accomodate everyone comfortably, it is beautifully situated and there is plenty of parking at the Outback Hall which is just off the A590 at Backbarrow. 

 We hope to see you there, please arrive early to allow time for candle lighting, message or email me with any questions, I will do my best to answer - enquiries@tigerlilytrust.co.uk

We understand that some of you may wish to join us for the Remembrance Celebration but be unable to - with this in mind we would like to offer you a way to include your precious babies too. If you send us their name in an email we will honour them by lighting a candle for them and speaking their name with all our babies during the ceremony.
United we honour our precious ones, together we help each other to heal.
Love and blessings, Val x x x

Thank you to University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust for blessing us with the 2016 Fundraiser Of The Year Award! It is an absolute honour to accept this award on behalf of everyone who had supported and helped us in any way to continue our much needed work. Without our volunteers and fundraisers we wouldn't be able to keep up with the demand for our services, so we are beyond grateful for all your kind and generous support.

I want to share, for all the bereaved parents who can't imagine they will ever feel real, authentic joy and happiness ever again - you will - one day, when you least expect it, something will trigger it, as receiving this award did for me. It took me a while to realise why what I was feeling felt so hugely significant, it was because I hadn't felt like this since before Lily died, and I had accepted that I may never feel real joy ever again. Experiencing such profound loss does this, makes you believe you will never be truly happy again. So it took me by surprise, to realise that this unfamiliar, strangely powerful emotion I was feeling was in fact pure joy and happiness, it stayed with me briefly, I wanted to cling to that feeling, but it passed. But now I know it is possible, to feel deep, authentic, pure, joy again after loss. Little by little, as we heal, tiny sparks of joy will return. Part of me will always grieve for my child, but now I know it is possible for grief and joy to coexist. 

Some pictures of the UHMBT Fundraiser of the Year Award, such a joyous validation of all OUR hard work - huge thanks to everyone who has supported Tigerlily Trust and helped us to attain this award. My parents accepted it on our behalf on the evening and then presented it to me, and some beautiful congratulatory flowers given to me by one of our brave parents a few days later. This award represents HOPE... hope for the future of Tigerlily Trust, hope for all parents who are hurting, and hope for mending our broken hearts H.O.P.E. = Hold. On. Pain. Ends.
Love and light, Val x x x

Charity Fundraising Event for Tigerlily Trust by Guys N Dolls Hair Boutique Lancaster

Venue - Guys N Dolls Hair Boutique – 54, Church Street, Lancaster LA1 1LH   Tel - 01524 61984

Date 28^th July 2016

Time 7pm – 10pm

We are holding a charity/open evening in the salon for being in business for 10years and for the Tigerlily Trust which helped Evonne through the hard times when her identical twin boys Rupert & Charlie were born sleeping. 

Please join us and bring friends.. Ladies & Gents welcome.. from 7pm on Thursday 28th July and help us raise some money for this great cause and also see what we offer in the salon!

Apothecary bar & lounce are having a pop up bar in the salon making cocktails!!

Live music from local band the Panda Cups!!

Gifts for sale from Estilo and Tigerlily Trust

Barclays Bank are going to match fund what we raise!

Raffle tickets are now available to buy from the salon £5 per strip and will be on the night.. We have had some amazing raffle prizes donated so far 

Updates and information for the event can be found on Guys N Dolls Facebook Events page 

https://www.facebook.com/events/131254987283677/?active_tab=posts

Jade : William’s Story

“I would like to share my story and pregnancy loss and stillbirth as a bereaved mother myself. 

On the 28th Feb 2015 I found out I was expecting my first child totally unexpected. So many mixed emotions and feelings as expected, I was nervous but also exited at the thought of being a mother. Throughout the first 12 weeks I was walking on eggshells worried about miscarriage or hurting my baby. Three months quickly came around and it was time for my 12 week scan, there on the screen was a little baby, moving away with a strong heartbeat, no concerns at all and I was sent away. I considered myself as "safe" now and started getting my head around the idea of being a mum, it all became real, little kicks, nappies, clothes and essentials taking over my bedroom! 20 weeks came and it was time for my scan, there on the screen was a perfect baby boy, healthy, kicking and developing as normal. No concerns or queries. Kicks became stronger and I learnt his daily routine. Nursery furniture and a pram was on order, a growing belly and all the unpleasant parts too!! Everything was perfect, until at 24 weeks his movements changed, becoming less and less frequent, I grew concerned and 3 times that week I took myself to the labour ward to get checked, everything was fine. Regardless of the reassurance I was concerned, I felt in my gut that something wasn't right, it wasn't like him to not move, sometimes he would go 18 hours without a movement, move once or twice and then stop for 12 hours. I was very concerned. Finally at 25 weeks and 1 day, still not happy with my feeling of dread and panic, I decided to go up to the labour ward once again. This time everything wasn't okay and my world was about to tip upside down. As I laid on the bed my stomach was doing flips with worry, I wasn't feeling positive about this trip. The midwife proceeded to use a handheld Doppler to find the heartbeat, after 2 minutes of trying without success she went to bring the consultant with a scanning machine. As they scanned me I saw the colour drain from their faces and the screen turn away. " I'm sorry, there is no heartbeat" the words that forever haunt me. So many thoughts and emotions running through my head, now what? Was it my fault? My baby is dead? So much emotion knowing I was going to give birth to a baby which I couldn't take home. I was scared and heartbroken. After 2 days of different doctors confirming his death, I was induced. I was bombarded with information, doctors using words like "postmortem" "funeral" "death register" all while I was trying to understand what was happening. Finally at 9pm after a 5 hour labour I gave birth to my son. William, weighing 1lb 5oz, overwhelmed with love, pain and sorrow I looked at his beautiful face, perfect fine dark hair and chubby cheeks, he was unreal, my heart ached with love and sorrow at his death. We were provided with a cuddle cot and clothes so we could spend 24 previous hours taking pictures, prints and having endless cuddles. I spent the whole time stroking his hair, kissing his cheeks and breathing in his beautiful smell, the smell of a mothers own baby is simply amazing and something I will remember forever. We had specialist midwifes providing support along with the hospital Chaplin who blessed William. 2 weeks later and planning, it was time for his funeral, heartbreaking but very special, we decided to have William cremated so I could bring him home. I am forever haunted by the words " sorry, there is no heartbeat" but with the help of the Tigerlily Trust charity I am learning to cope with what had happened and I will forever be thankful for the time I spent with him! Tigerlily Trust have been there, they have helped me, they have provided me with support from day one, making each day more bearable. If I had any advice for pregnant woman, it would be to listen to your gut instincts, I knew something was wrong but unfortunately nothing could have been done. Just remember ladies, and fathers too, that you are not alone xx”

Written by Jade Mansell in memory of William.

The Solid Life of Sugar Water

Deep respect to Jack Thorne and The Dukes Theatre for helping to 'break the silence' surrounding baby loss and bringing this performance to Lancaster.

There’s two chances to see an awardwinning play at The Dukes in Lancaster just days before it takes to the stage of The National Theatre.

 The Solid Life of Sugar Water is a story of love, loss, recovery, and how a couple communicate in the wake of a tragedy.

 This tender, compelling and unsettling play, which can be seen on February 16 and 17, follows the journey of a young couple as they attempt to reconnect with each other following a stillbirth.

Tigerlily Trust will be there offering support and information after each performance. We appreciate the sensitivity of this play, and how it will be an intensely emotional experience for anyone who has suffered baby loss, we want to be there for anyone who wishes to talk after the performance. It is also an opportunity for us to raise awareness and help to shatter the silence surrounding baby loss. If you wish to attend but would like support, Val will be watching the Tuesday 16th performance and you can contact her beforehand by emailing enquiries@tigerlilytrust.co.uk

It’s the work of Jack Thorne, an awardwinning writer for stage, television and film who has written the new Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play opening in London’s West End this summer. He recently adapted the cult novel and film Let the Right One In for the stage.

 The Solid Life of Sugar Water is performed by the acclaimed Graeae Theatre Company, once run by former Dukes artistic director Euan Marshall, which has gained a reputation for breaking down barriers, challenging preconceptions and boldly placing Deaf and disabled artists centrestage.

 Graeae’s signature characteristic is creatively integrating sign language, captioning and audio description to engage with both disabled and non-disabled audiences. This play was crowned the Most Accessible Show at the Accessible Fringe Awards 2015.

Arthur Hughes and Genevieve Barr will reprise the roles they created for the successful run at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Arthur has appeared in several Richard Burton Company productions and was a member of the BBC Radio Drama Company in 2013, receiving the Carleton Hobbs Award. Genevieve is best known for BBC One primetime drama The Silence for which she received BAFTA and International Emmy nominations for best actress. She has also appeared in Shameless.

The Solid Life of Sugar Water is recommended for ages 16 plus. It contains language of an adult and sexual nature. It calls in to The Dukes during a national tour which ends with a three-week run at the National Theatre.

Tickets are priced £13/£11 concessions. There will be a post show talk-back after the February 16 performance.

For more information and to book, ring The Dukes box office on 01524 598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org

CHANGES to DATES for BARROW and KENDAL Bereaved Parents Support Group Meetings.

Next BARROW meeting is Friday 29th Jan 2pm - 3.30pm
Sure Start Centre, Greengate Children's Centre, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. LA14 1BG

KENDAL dates - Riverside Hotel, Stramongate Bridge, Beezon Rd, Kendal, Cumbria. LA9 6EL 6pm - 8pm
Monthly meetings for newly bereaved parents (within the last 3 years) 
Dates 11th January 2016
          15th February 2016
           7th March 2016
          25th April 2016
          16th May 2016
          13th June 2016
I apologise for the changes, this should be all okay now.
Life was conspiring to make it impossible for the previous dates, thanks for your patience.

Love and light, Val x x x

We have now set the dates for our Barrow in Furness Bereaved Parents Support Meetings.

We are running them fortnightly on Thursday continuing on from the dates below.

Barrow-in-Furness

Sure Start Centre, Greengate Children's Centre, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. LA14 1BG  

Next meeting Tuesday 19th January 2016  10am - 11.30am

                      Thursday 18th February 10.30am - 12noon

                      Thursday 3rd March 10.30am - 12noon

                      Thursday 17th March 10.30am - 12noon

                      Thursday 31st March 10.30am - 12noon

                      Thursday 14th April 10.30am - 12noon

                      Thursday 28th April 10.30am - 12noon

                      Thursday 12th May 10.30am - 12noon

                      Thursday 26th May 10.30am - 12noon

Further meetings to follow on from these dates, every other Thursday 10.30am - 12noon.  If you are wishing to attend but would like to check when the next meeting is to be held you can contact Rebecca Bleackley at FGH Maternity Unit on 01229 491098 or email Bereavement.Midwives@mbht.nhs.uk or email Val at enquiries@tigerlilytrust.co.uk

Support Groups

"I felt like I was the only person in the world who had a baby that had died." Mother.

 If you would like to meet other bereaved parents in your local area there are groups in Lancaster, Barrow-in-Furness, and Kendal.

We are very pleased to be offering support meetings once a month for bereaved parents. If you have lost your precious baby or child you are very welcome to come along and have a safe, compassionate and understanding place to share with other bereaved parents. We create a gentle and nurturing space where we will 'hold the space' for you to be able to share and connect if you wish to, or simply be, if that's what will serve you best. 

If you require any further information or would simply like to ask something to help you feel more comfortable to attend, please email Val at enquiries@tigerlilytrust.co.uk

I look forward to connecting with you there, love and light, Val x x x

To be held at:-

Lancaster

Firbank Children's Centre, Firbank Rd, Lancaster, Lancashire. LA1 3HL  1pm - 3pm

Monthly meetings - two months for newly bereaved parents (within the last 3 years) then the third month is open to all bereaved parents, including those with historical losses.

Dates 15th January 2016 - newly bereaved meeting (last 3yrs)

          19th February 2016 - newly bereaved meeting (last 3yrs)

          18th March 2016 - open to all bereaved parents

          15th April 2016 - newly bereaved (last 3yrs)

          20th May 2016 - newly bereaved (last 3yrs)

          17th June 2016 - open to all bereaved parents

Kendal

Riverside Hotel, Stramongate Bridge, Beezon Rd, Kendal, Cumbria. LA9 6EL  6pm - 8pm

Monthly meetings for newly bereaved parents (within the last 3 years) 

Dates  11th January 2016

           15th February 2016

           7th March  2016

           25th April  2016

           16th May  2016

           13th June 2016

Barrow-in-Furness

Sure Start Centre, Greengate Children's Centre, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. LA14 1BG  

Next meeting Thursday 7th January 2016  10.30am - 12.30pm

Following meetings to be arranged at each meeting, if you are unable to attend but would like to know when the next meeting is to be held you can contact Rebecca Bleackley at FGH Maternity Unit on 01229 491098 or email Bereavement.Midwives@mbht.nhs.uk or email Val at enquiries@tigerlilytrust.co.uk 

I shall also be posting on Facebook each new date as it is decided.