If you are reading this newsletter for the first time I hope that it provides you with information, comfort or support. Sadly we have some more families just starting off on this journey of loss and we offer our heartfelt condolences to them. Many making contact through our new website and hopefully able to find immediate help and valuable information. For many other families their journey continues. This March saw the beginning of the new ISANDS Discussion Forum on our website where parents can communicate with other parents in the privacy of their own space and at a time when they may not feel up to making telephone calls or writing letters. Already there are many discussions going on every day about every aspect of the experiences of loss and bereavement. Some parents are sharing the very painful account of their baby's little lifetime, while others a little further down the way are discussing another pregnancy or anniversaries/ birthdays. If you get the chance read through some of the posts. I would like to thank all the parents for sharing their experiences and for opening up discussions at every level. ( www. isands. ie) Of course we must never forget the old ways of communicating, talking about what has and is happening makes a very real difference and our trained Support Team are there to listen. In this edition we also include information about our Services/ Blessing of Remembrance past and future and hope that you can join us for some special Time to Remember. Like each edition of the newsletter one of the most valued contributions is that of our guest writers, mainly bereaved parents and families. They have shared their thoughts and experiences in stories and poems and we are very grateful to them for that. We also include fundraising events, pictures and donations received. Hopefully there is something for each reader. It does take considerable time to compile information for each edition, so if you have any articles, stories, poems or something that might be of interest to our readers please let us know for next or future editions. Even if you have an idea or topic please make contact and we may be able to research it ourselves. As we have almost reached the end of another year I would like to say how grateful I am to have wonderful people who do what they do each year for ISANDS - the Members of the National Executive and the Support Team. Thank you for your continued dedication to the needs of bereaved families and for your support to me personally. My thanks also to all the other good people who help us do what we do each year- you know who you are and what you mean to us. And as I sit here very early in the morning trying to finish off this newsletter, listening to the autumn rain blowing against the window, I am reminded that there are lonely hours to be filled when you are bereaved, I hope that this newsletter and our new website or even a chat with us can bring some comfort into that space when you need it. Ron Smith - Murphy National Chairperson, ISANDS isands newsletter 3

We warmly invite you to join us and some special friends in Holy Trinity Church, Adare, Co. Limerick 25th October 2009 at 3pm Where we will give some special time to remember all our children. We are delighted to be holding a Service of Remembrance in Adare and thank the Very Rev. Joseph Noonan, P. P. for his warm invitation to Adare to celebrate the short lives of our children. We are delighted to be joined by - Our guest speaker - Peter Hanlon, Bereavement Therapist, HSE, Dublin Madeline & Ger Lovette ( Singers) Everyone welcome. A Time to RememberKaren Taylor Good In Concert in aid of ISANDS in the Sugar Club, Leeson Street, Dublin 7th December 2009 8. pm. Karen is travelling from Nashville USA to sing at our Christmas Service and will perform live in concert the following evening in the Sugar Club. Tickets ? 15 each and available from ISANDS by post, on line at www. isands. ie, after the Christmas Service and at the door on the night of the concert. To listen to Karens music log on to her official website at ~ http:// www. karentaylorgood. com Hope you can come. isands newsletter 4