Your browser version is outdated. We recommend that you update your browser to the latest version.

DONATIONS

If you wish to make a donation via Virgin Money Giving - where we can receive Gift Aid please use the link below. Thank you so much.

 

Tigerlily Trust 

Virgin Money Giving

Homepage

 

 

Or to donate via PayPal please use the button below. Thank you so much.

 

Thank you

 

 

Poems

 

“Your life was a blessing,

Your memory a treasure…
You are loved beyond words
and missed beyond measure…”

-Unknown

 

An Angel in the book of life

wrote down your baby’s date of birth
and whispered as she closed the book
“Too beautiful for this Earth”

- Unknown

 ♥

Alison

When the words were spoken
Words not wanting to believe
We had to say goodbye to joy
We were left alone to grieve

Our baby’s life was ended
Our love, our pain just grew
The anguish, tears and disbelief
Could this agony be true?

One day we had a treasure gift
Her suffering came to an end
A brave little angel, a memory now
A lost, beloved friend

Take away the tears from my eyes
Give me back part of my soul
A life, a treasured part of me
Until then I will not feel whole

- By Sheryl Mcmahon

 

Little Snowdrop

The world may never notice
If a Snowdrop doesn’t bloom,
Or even pause to wonder
If the petals fall too soon.
But every life that ever forms,
Or ever comes to be,
Touches the world in some small way
For all eternity.
The little one we long for
Was swiftly here and gone.
But the love that was then planted
Is a light that still shines on.
And though our arms are empty,
Our hearts know what to do.
Every beating of our hearts
Says that we love you. ­

- Author Unknown

Love is the scent with the lotus born.

It is the silent choirs of petals
Singing the winter’s harmony of uniform beauty.
Love is the song of the soul, singing to God.
It is the balanced rhythmic dance of planets – sun and moon lit

- Paramahansa Yoganada

 ♥

Little Footprints

How very softly you tiptoed into my world.
Almost silently you stayed,
but what an imprint your footsteps
have left upon my heart
A heart of gold stopped beating
My baby girl’s eyes at rest
God broke our hearts to prove,
He only takes the best.
God knew she had to leave us,
but she did not go alone.
For part of us went with her,
the day He took her home.
To some she is forgotten,
to others…just the past,
but to us who loved and lost her
memories will always last.

By Dorothy Ferguson

 ♥

“Love is not a thing to understand.

Love is not a thing to feel.
Love is not a thing to give and receive.
Love is a thing only to become
And eternally be.

- Sri Chinmoy

 ♥

When you are sorrowful look again into your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

The Prophet – Khalil Gibran

A Birth Healing Blessing


Blessed sister, beautiful one
with broken wings.
Your journey is a difficult one
that no mother should have to endure.
Your path is steep, rocky and slippery
and your tender heart is in need of gentle healing.

Breathe deeply and know that you are loved.
You are not alone,
though at times, you will feel like a
desolate island of grief
untouchable
distant.
Close your eyes.
Seek the wisdom of women who have walked this well-worn path before you,
before,
and before,
and before you yourself were born.
These beautiful ones
with eyes like yours
have shared your pain, and
weathered the storms of loss.

You are not alone (breathe in)
You will go on (breathe out)
Your wings will mend (breathe in)
You are loved (breathe out)



~ Mary Burgess
Author, Mending Invisible Wings, a healing journal for mothers following the loss of their baby through late-term miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death.

A Child of Mine

I'll lend you for a little while 
A child of mine God said
For you to love while he lives 
And mourn for when he's dead

It may be six or seven years 
Or twenty two or three
But will you 'til I call him back 
Take care of him for Me

He'll bring his charms to gladden you 
And should his stay be brief
You'll always have his memories 
As a solace for your grief

I cannot promise he will stay 
As all from earth return
But there are lessons taught down there 
That I want this child to learn

I've looked this whole world over 
In My search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life's lane 
I have chosen you

Now will you give him all your love 
Nor think labour vain
Nor hate Me when I come to take 
This lent child back again?

I fancied that I heard them say 
Dear Lord Thy Will be done
For all the joys Thy child will bring 
The risk of grief we'll run

We'll shelter him with ternderness 
We'll love him while we may
And just for having loved him 
Forever grateful stay

But should the angels come for him
Much sooner than we planned
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try, to understand

Edgar Guest
 
 
 
My Shoes
I wear a pair of shoes
They are ugly shoes
Uncomfortable shoes
I hate my shoes

Each day I wear them and each day I wish I had another pair.
Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step

Yet, I continue to wear them
I get funny looks wearing these shoes
They are looks of sympathy.
I can tell in others eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not theirs
They never talk about my shoes
To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.
To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them.

But, once you put them on, you can never take them off.
I now realize I am not the only one who wears these shoes.
There are many pairs in this world.
Some women are like me and ache daily as they try and walk in them.

Some have learned how to walk in them so they don't hurt quite as much.

Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by before they think about how much they hurt

No woman deserves to wear these shoes

They have made me who I am.
I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has lost a child.
Author unknown
 

Don't Cry

Daddy please don't look so sad,
Momma please don't cry.
Cause I'm in the arms of Jesus,
And He sings me lullabies.
 
Please try not to question God,
Don't think He is unkind.
Don't think He sent me to you
And then changed his mind.
 
You see I'm a special child,
I am needed up above.
I'm the special gift you gave Him,
A product of your love.
 
I'll always be there with you,
So watch the sky at night.
Look for the brightest star
And know that's my halo's brilliant light.
 
You'll see me in the morning frost
That mists your window pane.
That's me in the summer showers,
I'll be dancing in the rain.
 
When you feel a gentle breeze
From a gentle wind that blows.
Know that it is me
Planting a kiss upon your nose.
 
When you see a child playing
And your heart feels a tug,
Don't be sad mommy,
That's just me giving your heart a hug.
 
So daddy don't look so sad
And momma please don't cry.
I'm in the arms of Jesus
And He sings me lullabies!
 
Author unknown
 
 
Hello old friend
 
Hello old friend, Oh yes you know
I lost my child a while ago.
No, no please, don't look away
And change the subject, It's ok.

You see at first I couldn't feel,
It took so long, but now it's real.
I hurt so much inside you see
I need to talk, come sit with me? 


You see, I was numb for so very long,
And people said, "My, she is so strong."
They did not know I couldn't feel,
My broken heart made all unreal.

But then one day, as I awoke
I clutched my chest, began to choke,
Such a scream, such a wail, 
Broke from me.. My child! My child!
The horror of reality.

But everyone has moved on, you see,
Everyone except for me.
Now, when I need friends most of all,
Between us there now stands a wall.

My pain is more than they can bear,
When I mention my child,
I see their blank stare.

"But I thought you were over it,"
Their eyes seem to say
No, no, I can't listen to this, not today.
So I smile and pretend, and say, "Oh, I'm ok".
But inside I am crying, as I turn away.

And so my old friend, I shall paint on a smile,
As I have from the start,
You never knowing all the while,
All I've just said to you in my heart.

Author Unknown
 

A Mothers Grief

You ask me how I'm feeling,

But do you really want to know?

The moment that I try to tell you,
You say you have to go.

How can I tell you,
What it's like for me,
I'm haunted, I am broken,
You start squirming on your chair.

Because I am lonely,
You see, no one comes around.
I'll take the words I want to say,
And quietly choke them down.

Everyone avoids me now,
Because they don't know what to say,
They tell me "I'll be there for you"
Then turn and walk away.

"Call me if you need me now"
That's what everyone said,
But how can I call you and
scream into the phone,
"My God, My child is dead".

No one will let me -
Say the words I need to say,
Why does a Mother's grief,
Scare everyone away?

I'm tired of pretending,
As my heart pounds in my chest,
I say things to make you comfortable,
But my soul, it finds no rest.

How can I tell you things,
That are too sad to be told,
Of the helplessness of holding a child,
Who in your arms grows cold.

Maybe you can tell me,
How should one behave,
Who's had to follow their child's casket,
Watched it perched above a grave.

You cannot imagine,
What it was like for me that day,
To place a final kiss upon that box,
And have to walk away.

If you really love me,
And I believe you do,
If you really want to help me,
Here's what I need from you.

Sit down beside me,
Reach out, and take my hand,
Say, "My friend I've come to listen,
I want to understand."

Just hold my hand and listen,
That's all you need to do,
And if by chance, I shed a tear,
It's alright if you do too.

Unknown author

 

Grief

Grief comes in one size, Extra Large.
If we tuck it away in the bottom drawer
where it never sees the light of day,
it remains exactly the same.
On the other hand, 
if we wear it, feel it, talk about it,
and share it with others,
it is likely that it will become faded, shrunk and worn,
or will simply no longer fit.
When grief has served its purpose,
we are able to recognize the many gifts we have gained.

-- Dianne Arcangel, in
 
Life After Loss : Conquering Grief and Finding Hope

 

Fingerprints


Your fingerprints are on my heart.
Fingerprints that teach me about caring.
Fingerprints that teach me about love.
Fingerprints that teach me about courage.
Fingerprints that teach me about hope.
Fingerprints that bring me closer to my loved ones.
Fingerprints that bring me closer to myself.
In the time I cared for you my whole life changed --
never to be the same again
All this from tiny fingerprints that touch my heart.
You will live in my heart forever - never to be forgotten.
I will always love you.
You are my child.
 

Copyright © 2001 by Tom Krause

 

There is a sacredness in tears.
They are not the mark of weakness,
but of power.
They speak more eloquently
than 10,000 tongues.
They are the messengers
of overwhelming grief,
of deep contrition,
and of unspeakable love.

— Washington Irving

 

 

Fluff up the clouds 

Call heaven there's an Angel 
That's coming home today. 
Our hearts are sad and broken 
Because he couldn't stay. 

Fluff up the clouds and lay him 
Gently in your care. 
Place the tiny halo 
Softly in his hair. 

Our arms will never hold him again 
Our lips will never kiss 
The velvet of his cheeks again 
We were not prepared for this. 

In our hearts will be a tiny hole 
Where always you will be. 
Because we loved you so much 
Our hearts will always grieve. 

Unknown Author 

 

 

 

What Makes A Mother

I thought of you and closed my eyes 
And prayed to God today, 
I asked, "What makes a Mother?" 
And I know I heard him say: 
A Mother has a baby,
This we know is true 
But, God, can you be a mother 
When your baby's not with you?


Yes, you can, he replied 
With confidence in his voice,
I give many women babies, 
When they leave it is not their choice. 
Some I send for a lifetime, 
And others for the day, 
And some I send to feel your womb, 
But there's no need to stay.


I just don't understand this God, 
I want my baby here. 
He took a breath, 
and cleared his throat, 
And then I saw a tear.


I wish I could show you, 

What your child is doing Here... 
If you could see your child smile 
With other children and say, 
"We go to earth to learn our lessons 
of love and life and fear, 
but my Mummy loved me so much 
I got to come straight here!"


I feel so lucky to have a Mum

who had so much love for me, 
I learned my lessons very quickly, 
My Mummy set me free.


I miss my Mummy oh so much 
But I visit her each day. 
When she goes to sleep, 
On her pillow is where I lay.


I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek, 
And whisper in her ear,
"Mummy, Please don't be sad today, 
I'm your baby and I am here" 
So you see my dear sweet one, 
Your children are okay.


Your babies are here in My home, 
And this is where they'll stay. 
They'll wait for you with Me, 
Until your lessons there are through, 
And on the day that you come home, 
they'll be at the gates waiting for you 
So now you see 
What makes a Mother, 
It's the feeling in your heart, 
It's the love you had so much of 
Right from the very start.


Author Unknown 

 

A Father's Grief

It must be very difficult 
To be a man in grief, 
Since "men don't cry" 
and "men are strong" 
No tears can bring relief.

It must be very difficult 
To stand up to the test, 
And field the calls and visitors 
So she can get some rest.

They always ask if she's all right 
And what she's going through. 
But seldom take his hand and ask, 
"My friend, but how are you?"

He hears her crying in the night
And thinks his heart will break. 
He dries her tears and comforts her, 
But "stays strong" for her sake.

It must be very difficult 
To start each day anew. 
And try to be so very brave- 
He lost his baby too.


Author Unknown

 

 

 

An Angel's Dad!

 

I can't begin to express the pain that I am in,
I lost a part of me and that hurts me deep within,
you said goodbye before we ever got the chance to really say hello,
you were gone in a flash leaving tears mixed with love and sorrow,
I don't know if you chose your path or it was chosen for you,
but I'm glad I was on your journey before you got your wings and flew,
you're my angel now watching over us from above,
my inspiration for life and my teacher of the meaning of love,
in 19 days you taught me more than I even thought I could know,
how could something so small have so much courage to show,
you taught me that I need to stay strong and never give up,
that it don't matter if it is half empty or full just enjoy the cup,
it's funny how someone that was only here for such a little while,
can be remembered with every heartbeat, tear and smile,
the pain I have in my chest does not make me feel sad,
it's just the battle wound I have for being an Angel's Dad!

by Daniel Kerr


 ♥  

 

October 15th International Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day + Global Wave of Light
We are very grateful to Scott and Claire for their generous hospitality in hosting us for our annual Remembrance Celebration. We invite you to join us for a very special evening remembering and celebrating all our babies and children gone to soon.
On this special date, 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 help us to travel it. 
If you would like to come along, please join our event on Facebook - to help us prepare for accommodating you.


Doors open 6pm please come early to allow time for candle lighting and putting an angel on our remembrance tree in memory of your baby or child. 
There will be tea and coffee afterwards and time to talk and connect with each other.
We hope to see you there, message or email Val with any questions you may have, 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 attend - 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