Guest blog: National Bereaved Parents Day
Jennie Steer, Psychotherapeutic Practice Manager, shares how bereaved parents at Demelza have come together in creativity to find understanding, comfort and community.
On National Bereaved Parents Day, we honour the power of connection. The connections that hold you up when your world has fallen apart and the bonds that grow quietly between those who understand a pain that words can never fully capture.
For Ann (Ting’s mum) and Faye (Yema and Joseph’s mum), that connection began at one of Demelza’s bereavement cafés. Two mums, each dealing with unthinkable loss, found themselves sharing a table, conversations and an understanding of one another’s grief. What started as a chat over tea, a shared story and a knowing nod, slowly became a friendship stitched together by compassion, creativity and the deep recognition of a shared journey.
Crafting became their bridge. Talking, creating and supporting each other, their bond grew beyond the walls of Demelza. They began meeting, finding comfort in both the quiet moments and the laughter that still finds its way in, even after loss. Ann and Faye’s friendship is a testament to how connection can soften the sharp edges of grief and create space for hope to return.
From this beautiful bond came something even more extraordinary: ‘The Sew and Sews’, a volunteer crafting group created through love, talent and a desire to give back. Ann and Faye have now signed up as Demelza volunteers and are joined by Steff (Lolo’s mum) and Maggie (Malia’s nan), each bringing their own skills and hearts to the group.
Together, they plan to use their creativity to support other families in meaningful, practical personal ways, by offering advice about clothing adaptations for families who need bespoke solutions for their children. They have already crafted beautiful items for Demelza, knitted blankets for sensory bags, memory bears and butterflies for our bereavement suites, each piece made with care and love.
The group have taken their grief and transformed it into connection, community and creativity. Their friendship is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, something gentle and hopeful can grow and their talent is now helping other families feel supported and understood.
On this day, and every day, we celebrate Ann, Faye, Steff, Maggie and all the bereaved parents or carers who find strength in connection and courage in sharing their world with others.
Jennie Steer, Psychotherapeutic Practice Manager at Demelza
“From the dark connection from the death of our children brings the brighter connection from new found friendship and support.
A connection of emotions and understanding that need no words, just a look, a glimpse from across a room.
To understand the body language of a parent that unknowingly to you have come back to the that place for the first time since the death of their child.
Seeing them and being able to go up and give them a hug, the hug that they said they needed is a connection I'm proud to have, and for the friendship that can grow.”
