We Did It!

Update Cuddle Cot Fundraising

We have raised a total of $2260, over half way to our goal of $4000. Thank you everyone got your support. If you'd like to help us reach our goal please donate at the link below. 

http://www.mycause.com.au/page/thehugoeffectcuddlecotfundraiser

Cuddle Cot Fundraising

We have some exciting news. The Hugo Effect is joining with Emerikus Land Foundation to raise money for a Cold Cuddle Cot System which will be donated to Redcliffe Hospital. This system provides parents with the opportunity to spend precious time with their child once they have passed, without the normal time restrictions, and in a beautiful non clinical way. The required target is $4000, and to get there we will be holding a few different fundraisers, including a Tupperware Party, Online Auction, and Beauty Night. If you have any ideas for fundraising that you would like to share please feel free to private message me. This will be a marathon (not a sprint) project for us. We are very excited about what we will achieve for this year.

Please click on the banners below to be taken to the Facebook link for each event:

Please click on the image below to be taken to Online Auction Facebook Photo Album:

Donations:

We are looking for donations for our upcoming Online Auction, and Raffles at our two events can you help?

If you would like to donate an item, vouchers, services, please contact Tash on FB or thehugoeffect@hotmail.com 

Donations Addressed To:

The Hugo Effect 
PO Box 222
North Lakes 
QLD 4509 

If possible please ensure donations are submitted by the 07/06/2014 for the online auction. 

If you are donating items 'In Memory Of' please include your name and the in memory name. 

Please advise which event you would like the donation to go too 

Heartfelt Camera Kit

I'm am so glad to announce that we were able to reach our goal for Hugo's First Birthday. We have raised the full amount of money needed for a Heartfelt Camera Kit to be gifted to Redcliffe Public Hospital.

We will be having a handover morning tea in the coming month so please look out for the follow up post.

Thank you to all of our friends and family who helped us make this dream a reality.

Update:

On he 4th June 2014 I attended the handover of our Heartfelt Camera Kit to Redcliffe Hospital. We were able to discuss Memory Creation, and the use of our Memory Boxes in depth. Amy the QLD Heartfelt Coordinator also attended and was able to provide the staff with an insight into the services Heartfelt provide, and how these services can be utilised by Redcliffe Hospital. 

Luminous Light Beach Remembrance Ceremony, Saturday 16th November 2013, Mullaloo Beach Perth WA.

Michael & I were very blessed to be able to attend the Luminous Light Beach Remembrance Ceremony, this past Saturday. We arrived in Perth on Friday afternoon, and left on Sunday night. It was a whirlwind trip, but we did manage to fit a bunch of stuff in.
- Saw a rooftop movie.
- We travelled around the city, and came across Ye London Court.
- Went to the Perth Mint, where we had a coin personalised for Hugo, and saw a gold bar being poured.
- Sent Hugo a morse code telegram.
- Travelled to Mullaloo Beach for the ceremony and a picnic the next day.
- Went to Freemantle to the markets and brewery.

The decision to make this pilgramage to Mullaloo Beach was made shortly after Hugo's passing. I was searching for guidance in my grief, and landed upon the beautiful works of Carly Marie (www.carlymarieprojectheal.com). It was through this website that I found out about the Luminous Light Friendship Group, and was added to their online group. When I read about last years magical service, I just knew I wanted to honour not only Hugo, but his little angel siblings Star & Sprout in this way.

It was such a healing time for me being away, I had some very close moments with Hugo and was lovely to share the time with Michael. I would describe the ceremony as: releasing, free, unique, peaceful, uniting, love filled, honourable.

Here are some pictures from the trip:

Hugo's Coin (You Can See His Photo From My Phone Case In The Reflection)

Hugo's Telegram

Proceedings

Tieing The Ribbons On The Ribbon Branch

The Rememberance Flame 

Together

Rose Petals Into The Ocean

Rose Petals Into The Ocean

Rose Petals Into The Ocean

Together

Together

What An Honour To Meet The Beautiful Carly Marie

United We Stand

Michael Blowing Bubbles To Our Babies

Beautiful Moon 

Something To Take Home

Something To Take Home

Follow Up: International Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day Luncheon 15/10/2013

I just realised, I still hadn't written a post about the luncheon.

I'm very happy to say it was a great success. We had a lovely bunch of people join us; and together with our wonderful raffle (thanks to some very generous sponsors), we were able to raise a total of $1260 for SANDS Queensland.

MP for Longman, Wyatt Roy kindly joined us for the afternoon, and spent time mingling with those who had attended. We were very grateful for his presence.

Both Nicole Ireland (SANDS QLD President) and I spoke about baby loss, Kate Bryant read a poem, we had a candle lighting ceremony, and showed a powerpoint about the statistics of loss.

Thank you for all those who attended, and helped support bereaved parents accross Queensland. A particular mention to Ashley Horne, and the staff at Beachmere Tavern for sponsoring the event.

Here are some pictures from the day:

Table Centerpieces

Butterfly Board, Candles For Ceremony, The Hugo Effect Memory Box & Articles

Raffle Table 

Butterfly Board

Kate Bryant Reading Poem

Nicole Ireland- SANDS Queensland President

Candle Lighting Ceremony

Candles All Lit

Thank You To Beachmere Tavern Manager

Everyone In Attendance

Nicole Ireland, Wyatt Roy, Tash & Michael Foote

Cupcakes, Kindly Donated By Frosted By Lizzie

Thank You To Our Sponsors

You Are Not Alone (Guest Post: Larissa From Love Is Deeper Still)

If there is one thing I wish every bereaved mummy and daddy knew, it is this: you are not alone.

We found out our baby had no heartbeat on a Monday, she was born on a Wednesday and on Thursday we came home. Although my husband and I had great support from my two midwives, our families and our pastor, I don’t know that I’ve ever felt as alone as I did on that Thursday night. Driving away from the hospital with the empty capsule in the back seat and arriving home to an empty cot just intensified the loneliness that was swirling around in my head. Not only was my baby gone, but I had so many reminders that despite my heart being full of love, my arms were empty. That Thursday night, I felt so very alone.

But the next day, I realised that I actually wasn’t alone; the baby loss community, that I was now a part of, would always be there for me. My sister’s friend had set aside a toy rabbit to send us when our baby was born. Although Ariella was stillborn, she still sent the rabbit and it arrived, along with atouching card, the day after we got home from the hospital.We were home on Thursday night, the rabbit arrived on Friday morning, before I’d even gotten out of bed. This lady had alsoexperienced the death of a baby, and she knew that my arms would need something to hold while I was grieving myAriella’s death. That rabbit received more cuddles than I ever would have anticipated, and was often fetched by my husband before being snuggled in my arms and helping calm my tears.

Some people may hesitate to send a gift after a baby’s death, but not a loss mumma. They know what you need; you are not alone.

Some people may not mention your precious one’s name, but not the baby loss community. They know it is music to your ears; you are not alone.

As time goes on, people may not mark a sweet little girl’s birthday or a handsome boy’s anniversary, but those who have lost a baby will. They know those days are so important; you are not alone.

If you’ve had a miscarriage, an ‘incompatible with life’ diagnosis, a stillbirth or a neonatal death, you are not alone. I know it feels like it at times, I know the heart wrenching, lonely cries from the depths of your soul. I know that my words won’t fix anything, but I also know this: you are not alone.

You can visit Larissa's Blog at http://loveisdeeperstill.blogspot.com.au