False 1987 Portrait Your portrait now adorns our wall Speaks to us volumes; soothes the aching breast This is you home, here you belong You’re always beside us, alive, well and strong You carry our features, the resemblance is clear You can never be absent but all the time near In our hearts, in our minds, in all that we are Oh! darling Louise, you are indelibly there. We called you Louise, what a beautiful name. For Mammy, Daddy, Caroline life never again the same Where once we were three, now we are four Each day that passes you are loved more and more. Maybe sometimes you peep and open an eye You watch your big sister and then wonder why That you never cold join her or share in her games Though she bullies them all, would she treat you the same? It’s all a great mystery so hard to unfold Not easy to understand or accept what we are told But may your lovely portrait adorning our wall Be our constant reminder that God is over all. A loving reminder, so often to recall An expectant joy for a blessed event Your stay was short but for a little length Those gentle features at peace and rest Booklet ‘ A Little Lifetime’ Our Booklet A Little Lifetime is available from the society address if you know anyone who would like copy and at a cost of £ 1.50 ( one pound and fi fty pence) to include postage and packing. Glasnevin Cemetery A plan to tidy up Holy Angel Plot and erect a large plaque on the wall on which the baby’s name and date of birth can be inscribed seems to be at a standstill at present. Childbirth – Who Holds the Power? At a recent conference in the Rotunda Hospital Dr. Wendy Savage from a London Hospital, Joanna Fitzgerald- Midwife at St. James Hospital and Peg McManus- Assertive Teacher and Tom Kelly a Psychiatrists. The basic message was that women have given over the power of childbirth to the obstetricians and that they now need to be more assertive about how they want to have their babies. isands newsletter 111

False ISANDS Library As with past edition of the newsletter, we once again appeal to any of you who may be interested in donating a book or books that you have read and found helpful when your baby died and that we could loan to other parents. We have received many books and our thanks to all the parents and friends who have sent a book. It is very helpful to have the library especially when parents are very isolated and don’t even have the facility of a phone, car or library near by. Most parents fi nd reading a great source of comfort and information about what they are going through. Maybe you might consider donating a book in your baby’s memory or on behalf of a family whose baby died. You might also consider sending suggestions on books we could look out for or order. Building up our library will be an on going task but someday we hope to have a comprehensive collection for the benefi t of parents in the future affected by this sadness. If you have ideas or wish to make a donation of a book please send it to: ISANDS, Carmichael House, 4 North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, And mark the envelope Library. ISANDS Membership If you are reading this Newsletter for the fi rst time and would like to receive future editions you can become a member if you wish. Membership is an important source of our funding enabling us to continue providing and improving our services and support to bereaved parents and families. It also helps us to educate and promote awareness through our literature and twice yearly newsletters. Memberships are € 15 per year or € 7 if unwaged or an old age pensioner. Membership forms are available from our head offi ce but you can write to us with your name and address and cheque / postal order and we will include you on our mailing list for the future. Patch Work Quilt Patches for the New National Quilt of Remembrance continue to come in and they are all really beautiful. Each one as unique as the babies they represent. Well done to all concerned. There is still plenty of time if you haven’t got around to making one yet or getting one made for you, so don’t rush. There are specifi c specifi cations required for the fi nished patch to form a Quilt. All patches must be the same size to make it uniform. Completed work must measure 6” x 6” plus approx 2” all around the work must be allowed for each patch to be sewn on to the Quilt. Completed patches can be sent to the head offi ce marking the envelope “ patch”. Gift Certifi cates Our Gift Certifi cates continue to be a great success with many parents, family members, and friends’ and colleagues opting for a cert. in acknowledgment of a donation received. This certifi cate records the baby’s name and who sent the donation but not the amount, this is done separately. There are so few ways to acknowledge in a small way a baby’s short life and each contribution no matter how small enables ISANDS to continue to offer support to parents and families. We are sincerely grateful to everyone concerned. Please contact main offi ce for details if you would like a Certifi cate. Membership Renewal Thank you to everyone who has renewed their membership so promptly and to many of you who have kindly added a donation. Thank you also to the growing number of members who have taken up the option to pay their subscription by standing order, which helps to reduce our administration costs. For further information on membership please contact us at 01- 8726996, info@ isands. ie or at ISANDS Carmichael House, 4 North Brunswick Street, Production: Ron Smith- Murphy and Dermot O’ConnorDublin 7. Prnted in Ireland by Vision Print. isands newsletter 112