United by pregnancy loss, families join together and remember

Monday, October 16, 2023

DAR/Alicea Hull

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center hosted a new program for bereavement and pregnancy infant loss created to spread awareness, as well as to give families the opportunity to come together, share their stories and know they are not alone. Families gathered on Sunday, Oct. 15 and released lanterns and released lanterns in the pond behind the hospital.

Lanterns were released by families and medical staff in remembrance of the babies lost during pregnancy. The hospital also had tshirt created for purchase to raise funds for bereavement families and offer them something special in their time of grief.
KJ, Mckenzie Stewart and Jessica Stewart were among those who shared a story of pregnancy loss at a special memorial event Sunday. Mckenzie Stewart released a blue lantern in memory of her stillborn son.

The Byrd and Nelson families light a pink lantern, representing a baby girl lost at 24 weeks.