A facebook support group for bereaved families of little ones lost in infancy or during pregnancy is raising funds for those struggling to pay for headstones.
Sapphire’s Promise was set up by Ramsgate mum Crystal Venus following the loss of daughter Sapphire, twin to Brandon now aged one.
Crystal, 30, and partner Daniel Brady, 29 ,found their lives changed forever in July last year when Sapphire suddenly stopped breathing.
Crystal frantically performed CPR and then doctors tried to save her but the little one, aged just 11 weeks, passed from sudden infant death syndrome (Sids).
The syndrome is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old.
Crystal, who is also mum to Kaitlin 6, Elisha 5, Aedan 3 and Brandon, Crystal set up Sapphire’s Promise to raise awareness of Sids and offer support. The page is used to raise funds for cuddle cots – cooling mattresses that can be placed in a cot or a pram to allow parents time with their baby before their funeral – and for memory boxes.
She also organised a Wave of Light event in Margate last year, on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, and one on Ramsgate main sands this year.
The latest bid is to help grieving families who may not have the funds to pay for their child’s headstone.
Crystal said: “We are starting to raise funds for headstones for angel babies for families that are struggling as every baby deserves to have a headstone on their forever bed.
“We have a local family that we have started fundraising for.Any bereaved parent has enough to worry about after losing a child, planning a funeral and making arrangements and then once they decide to have a burial there is more stress and pressure of being able to afford the headstone.
“If we, as a non profit, can help to relieve some of the pressure and help them with money for their headstones we can ease some of their grief. Some angel babies have to wait years because families just can’t afford it.”
Sapphire’s Promise is also looking for a business to work with who could help supply discounted headstones.
Find Sapphire’s Promise on facebook