http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/good-sorts-joan-curle-3613377
I had just done an email interview with Doreen, and it makes me reflect on my life. So when she invites you to do one, I encourage you to do it as well. One of the thing that I reinforce myself is why am I blogging.
One of my thoughts is to share and encourage those who have become bereaved parents. I became a breaved mum in 1989. In Sept this year, my Andrew would be celebrating his 21st. It would be such an important mile stone. But he died when he was 55 days old.
Shortly after doing the interview, I listened to my television. Every Sunday, our national TV run a Good Sort item. People nominate person who they feel deserved to be nominated. It seems that it was God's way of reassuring me.
I gave Andrew up a few hours for his autopsy. We chose not to view him after that. We had his coffin sealed. As I watch the news article, I count myself luckier than many others. I too would nominate Joan for the extraordinary work she does.
Joan Curle is a Good Sort who finds meaning in the shortest of lives.
She works for Sands, an organisation which offers support for parents who suffer stillbirth or the death of their newborn baby.
Curle works at Wellington Hospital, making up baskets and mementos, such as a certificate of life.
"They don't get a birth or death certificate, so this is really important to their parents - their babies did exist. It's really important for them," she says.
The baskets are made so all parents can have a record of their child.
"They do exist, they are not brushed away, they are not just put in a kidney dish, which is what they used to be put in."
Curle makes baskets in all sizes, from children who die at birth, to those who last just 20 weeks in the womb. Their coffins are half the size of a shoe box.
Curle has devoted 18 years to the project, after her own newborn, Andrew, died after living for just 12 hours.
She decided Andrew's legacy would be to ensure every Wellington baby who dies gets dignity in death.
Do you know someone who is a Good Sort?
