Remembering Alex and Ian 5

Today it is 5 years since our twin sons Alex and Ian were stillborn.  Always remembered!  We wish they were here.  Their birthday will be celebrated with cake.  Today on my blog, I mark their anniversary with some stories, reflections and resources that I have found recently.

Stillbirth and sport have been in the news this year.  So here are a few stories I have found moving:

• I was not alone in admiring Gary Barlow's courage in performing at the Olympic Closing Ceremony in London, days after his daughter Poppy was stillborn.
• In April, Australian Olympian Brooke Hansen's 9 month old son, Jack, died.  (See Daily Telegraph article)
• When Sydney Swans won the AFL Grand Final this year, there was some talk of the co-Captain, Jarrad McVeigh whose daughter Luella died at 4 weeks old last year.  (See Daily Telegraph article)
• Finally, I stumbled across the story of another AFL footballed, Port Adelaide Crows Troy Chaplin whose wife delivered a stillborn baby boy, Archie, at 20 weeks in 2010.

While looking at these stories, I discovered the Teddy Love Club, now known as Pregnancy Loss Australia, which has many fantastic resources on their website and seem to do great support work.  They also hold a Butterflies for Babies Day to raise awareness and support families who suffer the loss of a baby.

Lastly, I found this beautifully-written article in which William McInnes' reflects on his grief at the loss of his wife.

Previously on Green Gourmet Giraffe:

This day in 2011: Remembering Alex and Ian 4
This day in 2010: Remembering Alex and Ian 3
This day in 2009: Remembering Alex and Ian
This day in 2008: Ripple in Still Water