For our Together, we are Sands campaign, we are celebrating the impact of the connections made within and beyond the Sands community.
Thank you to Jean for sharing her connection to our community – a community unlike any other.
Jean still remembers the care and kindness she was shown by nurse Elaine Thorp after her baby son died in the 1970s. Jean later helped set up one of the first Sands support groups and is still involved with the charity through the Elaine Thorp Award panel.
"I first came in contact with Elaine on a post-natal ward after the birth of my first son. She was a staff nurse, quite adept at chivvying junior staff and patients into conforming to the rules of the day. During the next three years I experienced a miscarriage (at home) and the neonatal death of a son who had died in the nursery of the post-natal ward.
"Then, at a booking clinic a sprightly young nurse took my history and said, “Let’s hope this will be third time lucky!”. This left me astonished but fortunately, Sister Elaine Thorp was there and she took the time to check out my feelings and offered support at the subsequent ante-natal appointments. This was before Sands was established.
"Several years on it became apparent that Elaine had understood the significance of my recalling my experience (and probably similar stories from others) of isolation and rapid discharge from hospital after the loss. It took time but I think she managed to influence the right people for there to be facilities provided conducive with good bereavement care."
- Jean, Sands volunteer supporter and bereaved parent from Solihull
Read more stories of connections and keep checking for new ones throughout June.
Through all these different experiences, the one connection remains, our precious and loved babies.
Find out how you can get involved in the Together, we are Sands campaign.