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Bereavement Support
Little Hearts Matter likes to be able to offer support services to all of its membership. As you know a number of our families sadly lose a child to complex heart disease and so over the last few years we have been working to develop a support service for families whose children have died.
Run by the Bereavement Support Team and the LHM office we try to offer families the opportunity to talk to other families whose experience is similar to their own. We offer someone to link to either over the phone, via email or at one of our bereavement support events.
If you would like to talk to other parents who have lost a child due to complex congenital heart disease, either visit our Bereavement section on the Message Boards or you can call the office on 0121 455 8982 to be put in contact with one of our Bereavement Support Team, who are:
Judith & Peter Groves
Stephanie was born at Stafford General Hospital, on the 31st March 1994 after a normal and uneventful pregnancy. However, 2 days later she became unwell and was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where she was diagnosed. Stephanie not only had HLHS but she also had a leaking tricuspid valve so surgery was out of the question. Stephanie died on the 3rd April 1994.
6 months later LHM was created and became a much needed support to us. We decided some years later to help when possible within the bereavement support service as we knew that it was important to speak to other families who had gone through similar events.
We have gone on to have three more daughters Charlotte, Bethany and Samantha who all know about their ‘big’ sister.
Tracy Ratcliffe
Tracy is married to Andrew and is a Mum to Katie (born 1993) and Marcus, who was born with HLHS in 1999, but sadly passed away at 4 days old. She is a retired staff nurse and in her spare time enjoys reading. Of her role as a member of our Bereavement Support Team she says:
"As a bereaved Mum, having endured the loss of my child & survived(!) I can now utilise my passage through grief to give support to others. I believe I am an excellent communicator, drawing this from my nursing skills."
I hope that as a member of the bereavement team I can give support & hope for the future to other bereaved parents. Bringing light into their dark point in time, so as they face their journey of grief, I will help them to take strength from their little angels & allow them to emerge into life again!"
The work of the group has been steadily growing over the last few years. One of the projects that has arisen from parents' questions and need for support has been a bereavement information and support book.
From Us to You explores the ways that different parents feel as they travel through the grieving process. It is a wonderful collection of personal experiences, ways to help yourself and others, reassurances that it is normal to feel angry, sad, happy or depressed and comfort in the fact that you are not alone.
The book has been written by Joanna Goldie, Judith and Peter Groves and Penny and Steve Hayles with comments and anecdotes from many other bereaved families who are part of Little Hearts Matter. The book is available from the LHM office. Click here to view an extract or request a copy.
We also have drawn together a collection of links and resources from other sources which you may find useful which you can find here.