To my precious Angel Alana, It broke my heart to lose you. You did not go alone For part of me went with you The day God called you home. God look after Alana I entrust her to Your care I think about her often And know that she is near. I send her love and kisses And remember her with love My baby girl, my angel My shining star above. I'll blow out your candle And send a loving wish. Send us back a smile And blow us all a kiss. How I wish Alana you were here. Near me night and day But in my heart I feel you close Just wish you could have stayed. For the one I love didn't go away. You walk beside me everyday Dear God give me the strength, I pray To cope with life from day to day. Without her.... From your loving Mum Ann Walsh Eoin Hidden for nine months, You filled our hearts and lives, Your frailty calling us To deepest fatherhood and motherhood. Then, your birth lit up our lives For one brief day. The sight of you, the touch of you Was like a brilliant sunrise. Your Mummy, Daddy, big sister, Grandparents, aunts and uncles All basked in the joy of your Amazing, vulnerable presence. You could not stay long, Everyone knew that, so at The twelfth hour, you departed. Leaving, like the setting sun, An unforgettable radiance across The sky of our hearts. A radiance that will last forever. For Eoin Doyle with love from Mummy, Daddy & Caoimhe isands newsletter 15

An Aunt's Story My name is Louise; these are my feelings as an Aunt at the loss of my niece Care- Jane. I remember the day my sister Jeanette told my Mam and me that she was pregnant; we were over the moon. We'd all waited so long for this day and it was the best news ever. I was so looking forward to the birth of Clare- Jane, planning what I'd buy her and hoping that I'd be the God Mother. I was so happy for my sister, after all she waited so long to have her first child. My little girl Shawna was so excited to have a new cousin on the way because all her other cousins were so much older than her and secretly she wanted it to be a baby girl. Shawna says she still remembers during Jeanette's pregnancy, she would sit her on her lap and let her feel the baby kick. Then in July I got that dreaded phone call, my niece Jessica rang to tell me that Jeanette was in hospital and had been told that the baby's heart beat had stopped. I started to cry but I couldn't catch my breath for a minute. It must've been shock. We were all devastated and felt so helpless, what could we do but just be there for her. When Jeanette gave birth to Clare- Jane I remember going to the hospital to see her. She wasn't crying or upset, It was like she' d just had this beautiful baby girl and she wanted everyone to see her; it was like it hadn't sunk in yet that Clare - Jane was stillborn. She was dressed in her little baby clothes and a bonnet and wrapped in her baby blanket. She looked like she was just asleep. So peaceful, so beautiful. She looked prefect, what a beautiful baby! On the day of the funeral, Clare - Jane wore our family Christening gown and shawl, she was like an Angel in her little white coffin. An image I will never forget. I was so angry with God for along time, why did this have to happen to her, she waited so long to have her baby and now she felt she wouldn't get that chance again. However on December 21st 2005, Hannah Robyn was born, what a fantastic Christmas gift for her Mam and Dad. It made everyone's Christmas so special that year. Clare- Jane won't be forgotten, her photo is on our key chains and Hannah knows all about her big sister. I believe she is Hannah' s guardian Angel looking over her and protecting her every move. Louise Tierney- Griffin Aunt to Clare- Jane McDonnell isands newsletter 16