Gather and Walk commemorates babies who have died in southern Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month… a time when people can honor and remember babies who have died from miscarriage, stillbirth or other infant deaths, which is exactly what some of the community in Tucson did Sunday, October 27.

Losing a child during or immediately after pregnancy is not a topic people are comfortable with – but in helping families get over such a painful loss, talking about it can do so much.

Dozens of families who lost a child this way walked together to remember their lives, led by Sherokee Ilse, who suffered a miscarriage and a stillborn son, Brennan. She said the support she needed wasn’t there on that terrible day.

“They had no idea how to help us, so I made it my job to be a paradigm changer and help people: nurses, doctors, social workers, chaplains, funeral directors, so they know better how to help people help,” said Ilse.

Ilse says it’s a secret club that no one wants to be a member of – losing a child at such a young age – and that secret makes it difficult to find help.

“I think the concept of a dying baby is incredible,” Ilse said. “People don’t want to know this is happening, and they’ve never really learned what to say or how to help, and we need to change that.”

“In my previous places I worked, we always said, ‘Okay, we’re sorry, good luck with that,’ and then they left,” said Genesis Nurse Practitioner Bernadette O’Grady.

She is helping to turn the tide by giving families a chance to connect and providing the emotional tools loved ones need to grieve.

“We can give these patients handouts, books, information, love and support and help them get through this,” O’Grady said. “It’s really great to be part of that.”

The resources for the event are available year-round here in southern Arizona. If you want to know more, you can find them here.

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