Over 200 people gathered at the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre (LWNC) at Burnley General Hospital to witness the poignant unveiling of the 'Tree of Life' sculpture.
The moving event marked the conclusion of Baby Loss Awareness Week with the Wave of Light ceremony, an annual global observance honouring the lives of babies lost too soon.
The ceremony featured heartfelt readings from bereaved parents, with babies' names read aloud by Bereavement Midwife Lead, Nikki Galloway, and Joanne Edwards, founder of the East Lancashire baby loss charity, Friends of Serenity, who spearheaded the Tree of Life initiative.
Following the ceremony, families gathered around the newly unveiled tree sculpture, to see their child's name among the blossom leaves adorning the Tree of Life.
Comforting prayers were offered by Trust Chaplain Joanne Macholc along with Jane Pemberton, Deputy Chief Nurse, Louise Bardon, Interim Assistant Director of Midwifery, and Kathryn Sansby, Quality and Safety Lead for Maternity and Neonatology, and a poem was read by Denise Gee, ELHT&Me Head of Charity.
ELHT Chief Nurse, Peter Murphy, expressed gratitude to Friends of Serenity for their unwavering support over the past 11 years, highlighting the significance of the Tree of Life donation to the hospital and the families who will benefit from its presence in the courtyard space at LWNC.
Standing at 4 meters tall, the Tree of Life, a creation by North West sculptor Ruth Moilliet, is a stainless steel blossom tree adorned with over 130 blue, lilac, and silver blossoms. Reflecting on the unveiling, Ruth said, “The appreciation for the Tree of Life from the courageous families gathered around it was humbling to hear and see. To create work for such a project and setting is something I am proud and honoured to be part of.”
The Tree of Life garnered further attention as it was featured on BBC North West Tonight. Host Kay Crewdson, a fellow advocate who has experienced baby loss, shared the story of the Tree of Life and its significance with local families including Simon Jordan, Lil Norbury, and Toby and Jacob Edwards.
Simon said: "This is a symbol of hope, a place to reflect... It is beautiful, although in reality, you wish the name wasn't on there. It is a safe space."
The Tree of Life will continue to grow as additional blossoms can be added throughout the year. Families wishing to have their baby's name engraved on a personalised leaf can do so through the Friends of Serenity website, ensuring this beautiful memorial continues to touch more hearts.
Friends of Serenity was founded by Joanne Edwards in 2013 following the loss of her first son, Luke. The charity, which began by raising £20,000 for a specialist bereavement suite, has subsequently contributed over £300,000 to various projects supporting bereaved families throughout East Lancashire.
For more information or to make a dedication, please visit Friends of Serenity's website.