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Dear bereaved parents and those who support them,

If you are new to Bereaved Parents of Madison: welcome. We are glad you have found us and are so sorry you are here. The holidays can be a challenging time for loss families. With the holiday season on the horizon, this month we're sharing resources for including your child(ren) in your traditions. We hope you find this newsletter and resources helpful in some small way on your grief journey.

Holiday Traditions

Many parents have shared traditions they have started in their family to celebrate their child(ren) around certain holidays. Danielle, Mama to Luciano, has compiled a list that covers many holidays, including these suggestions for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Thanksgiving
  • Save a seat at the table for them
  • Make a donation in their name
  • Volunteer in their name
  • Light a candle
Christmas
  • Gift a donation to a child of the same age through a shelter or organization
  • Swap a holiday ornament — Learn more here
  • Hang a stocking
  • Decorate a small tree for them
  • Make a monetary donation in their name
Share your story with us!
Do you have something you’d like to share with other bereaved parents about your child(ren) or loss journey? We are seeking stories, poems, songs or art from parents about holidays or meaningful moments to feature in our upcoming newsletters. We’d love to hear from you! Submit a story idea here.

Check out our newsletter archive or member stories page to read other stories and find additional resources.
Support for Families
Many BPoM in-person support, group meetings, and events are suspended until further notice. 
Your health and safety are important to us; we also want to find ways to keep supporting you. We are working on ways to make virtual connections with you during this time.

Join us on Facebook! 
You can find our public Facebook page here or request to join our private Facebook page here. Our private page is a great place to connect with other loss families and share your thoughts and feelings, good, bad, or in between.
If you need one-on-one peer support during this time please call us at (920) 643-0217.
We will connect you with a HUGS volunteer. 
November Support Events
Not all the events listed below are BPoM events. Please check the individual organization websites to see how, or if, they will be hosted.
No group this month: Kull Counseling Miscarriage Support Group  (1st Thursday)
Join them in December
11/8: Bo's Heavenly Clubhouse (2nd Monday)
5:30 - 7:00 pm
Support meetings at Higher Grounds Coffee Shop in Beaver Dam
11/14: Alana Rose Foundation's Mourning Coffee Monthly Support Group (2nd Sunday)
8:00 am
Email alanarosefoundation@gmail.com for virtual meeting information.
11/11: GPS Hope Janesville (2nd Thursday)
6:30 pm
11/18: Compassionate Friends Monona (3rd Thursday)
7:00 - 8:30 pm
The support group is meeting virtually. Please email Gina at gma2293@gmail.com for details.
11/18: BPoM Support Group (3rd Thursday)
7:30 - 9:00 pm
All loss families are welcome to join this support group. Note: We will meet virtually through Zoom. Please watch our Facebook page or website for details.
11/22: Bo's Heavenly Clubhouse (4th Monday)
5:30 - 7:00 pm
Support meetings at Higher Grounds Coffee Shop in Beaver Dam
11/23: BPoM Rainbow Pregnancies of Madison Support Group (4th Tuesday)
6:00 pm
Note: We will meet virtually through Zoom. Please email rpom@bereavedparentsofmadison.com for details.
11/28: BPoM Book Club
9:00 - 10:00 am
Join us for a November virtual book club event! We will be reading ‘It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand' by Megan Devine. You are welcome to attend at any point in your grief: tears, sadness, anger, is all normal in grief. Questions? Contact Chelsey at events@bereavedparentsofmadison.com 

Please fill out this Google Form to RSVP and request a copy of the book.
Featured Event
December Remembrance Service
Saturday, December 4th

Mark your calendar!  BPoM will be hosting the annual Holiday Remembrance Service on Saturday, December 4th. The holidays can be a challenging time for all loss families.  
This event is a non-religious service that is a lovely time to reflect and remember our babies. All bereaved parents are invited.

If you did not receive an invitation last year or you have moved, please email Jen Pepoy (jennifer.pepoy@gmail.com) with your address. Invitations will be sent out to parents in early November with specific details. We send out invitations so we can add your baby(ies) names to the list so that your baby(ies)'s name will be read during the service. We want anyone who attends to be able to hear their baby's name read.
News & Opportunities
Volunteer with us!
Are you interested in volunteering with BPoM? We have opportunities to get involved from as little as 1 or 2 hours of your time once a year or monthly. We’d love to hear from you. Please complete our Time and Talent Survey if you’re interested in learning more about how you can get involved.

Upcoming Training Webinars & Conferences

Other Opportunities

  • Baby Loss Remembrance Photography — Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS)’s mission is to introduce remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby with a free gift of professional portraiture. Their hospital services have been limited due to the pandemic. You can send your own photos to NILMDTS for professional digital retouching.
  • Help Us Advocate for the Stillbirth Tax Credit - We are excited and hopeful to share that the stillbirth tax credit bill (LRB 1753) has been introduced this legislative session. Watch and listen to Amanda’s story and why she is advocating for this bill. Please contact your representatives and advocate with us. Bills can move quickly through legislation and we do not usually get much advance notice of advocacy opportunities. We will do our best to keep you updated!
  • Recommended Reading - We have a suggested reading list available on our website and you can request a free copy of a book (or electronic version) that interests you by filling out our Book Request Form. 
  • Infant Loss Support Directory — The Children's Health Alliance of WI has a list of bereavement resources listed by county around the state of Wisconsin. This is a valuable resource for families and providers.
  • Help Make Handmade Baby Blankets and Gowns —Mikayla's Grace is looking for volunteers to make handmade items for their Angel Memory Boxes. You may have gotten a similar box during your stay in the hospital.
  • BPoM Brochures Available — We provide free brochures about our organization and support services to any facility that supports our families. Request brochures here.
Contact
Website
Email
Facebook - Private Page
Facebook - Public Page
Copyright © *2020* *Bereaved Parents of Madison, Inc.*, All rights reserved.

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Bereaved Parents of Madison · PO Box 46511 · Madison, WI 53744-6511 · USA

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