The importance of being remembered......TRIGGER WARNING: Child Loss

When we think of our own mortality, we often (I’m assuming but I maybe wrong) imagine ourselves being very old, having lead a full life and accomplishing many hopes and dreams. For some people this happens. However, for some it does not.

I support children with very complex medical needs and pround learning disabilities. This group of beautiful children often have a life limiting diagnosis and their parents have had to become more than just ‘Mum’ or ‘Dad’. They are still these roles but also administrator, law expert, advocate, nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, moving and handling lead……..plus many, many more. And to top it all off; they are having to have heartbreaking conversation about their own child’s mortality and future. No parent should have to do this and those that do tend to cling together with a shared understanding of their experience in a club that no one wants to be a member of.

I am always trying to find meaningful ways of capturing the voice, wishes and memories of the wonderful children I support. I recently starting making Tactile Pebbles with the children. This is a way of recording their finger prints in clay for future comfort. But I need to be clear, I do NOT push the children’s hand or fingers into the clay. They do what they want with their hand/finger. Any marks that are made are genuine and authentic. It is their mark to their family in the future. I am hoping these bring an element of comfort and closeness as the finger print can be touched, as if holding their hand.