Couple start retreat for families with stillborn children
A young couple have put in place a retreat for families who have endured the tragedy of having a child stillborn.
Simon and Alanna Salter were so excited for the arrival of their daughter Isobel in 2015.
They had been out and bought all the things required for the growing of their family, when Alanna noticed a lack of movement from the baby.
They went to hospital for what they thought was a routine check-up.
"We had our boy's name picked out but we didn't have our girl's one picked, so we were still doing all that" said Alanna.
"We were eventually brought in to be seen and the midwife couldn't find a heartbeat."
Sadly, little Isobel was stillborn at just 39 weeks old on 26 June 2015 and just like that, the brightest of futures had been snatched from the Salter family.
She had suffocated over a period of six hours after the placenta failed and her oxygen supply was restricted.
Simon and Alanna returned home to a house filled with all the bits and bobs they had picked up in anticipation of their new baby and had to grieve while carrying out the practicalities of moving various items on.
"One of the hardest things for me personally was bringing back the pram that we had bought," said Alanna.
"The thought of this pram that we had chosen with so much love and so much excitement just sitting there unused, broke my heart."
Simon, 33, found himself reflecting on the life experiences he would miss with his daughter.
"Where you see a father walking down the aisle with his daughter, that will never happen with me and Isobel," he said.
"This is what I'm missing out on.
"I missed her first day of school.
"I didn't even get to see what colour of eyes she had."
Alanna, a clinical psychologist, said the idea of a retreat came to them when they realised there wasn't anything like it on offer for grieving parents.
So from the darkest of circumstances, Simon and Alanna found a way that they could manage their own grief and bring hope and support to others in the same situation.
The retreat runs on 29-30th of April at Colebrook Estate in Co Fermanagh.
"It's just the fact that people are away, taking time to themselves, out of their busy lives, in a lovely setting," said Alanna.
"They get to talk about their baby, who they're missing, with other people who completely understand."
Those attending the retreat will hear talks from experts on how to cope with grief, will take part in yoga and art classes and will be able to take in the beautiful surroundings as they remember the lives of their little ones.
Those wanting to enquire about the retreat can email still.parents@gmail.com or click on the Facebook link in the body of the article.