Our MelodyCome close as I play these sweet sounds, my love Follow my lead and come play with meBring to life your chorus so that we can sway together,Our fantasy ....Lift up the symbols and crash the sleeping wavesBlow hard to swirl the howling winds.Orchestrate the rocks to host the roaring seas, Beating them into a melody set against melody.Time to bolt the thunder ...crash!....our crescendoGently play the bluebells and strum the arching rainbowBurst fr om the skies with a swirling rhythmRaindrops to hit the notes of high and lowA mix of sharp downpours fr om the HeavensAgainst some soft warm sunny dulcet tonesHallelujah ...hear the chorus Choir of songBirds cry out their searching ariaAnd lullaby our sleep and wake our morningYou play nature's conversation in staff and staveIn harmony we play, my loveYou were born to play .... Magnifi cent ..bravo....encoreRon Smith- Murphy ©isands newsletter27

Virtual Quilt and ISANDS Discussion ForumAs you can see form these four images the Virtual Quilt is now on Quilt 4. This is amazing and desperately sad as well.Each Quilt remembering at least 100 children and some patches remembering more than one child. It is lovely to see it being used and easy to see that parents, family and friends need somewhere to go to remember their baby. Some of the patches are from families who live outside Ireland and it is great to see that it has a role to play where ever you are.The ISANDS website is getting wonderful feedback right across the globe. It's easy to use and offers a wider range of information and support. Since January 2009 it has had 2,184,355 (two million, one hundred and eighty four thousand, three hundred and fi fty fi ve) hits and the total views is: 237,265 (two hundred and thirty seven thousand, two hundred and sixty fi ve), which is incredible.The Discussion Forum is a year old on the 25th March 2010 and has almost 500 registered Users with nearly 6000 posts and a staggering 154,144 views (one hundred and fi fty four thousand, one hundred and forty four). That is amazing for such a young forum. We intend to develop it a little further and hopefully in time there will be more and more using it. It is very heart warming to read how parents are supporting each other in the very varied discussions. There is a very real sense of community and family about it. Well done to all the Mums and Dads who have shared their experiences with others and welcomed and encouraged others to join in. It is lovely to see it grow.Many more good things are planned for it in the coming months so check in from time to time for updates.If you have any ideas that might improve the support it offers please let us know. Parent Support Meetings In 2009 we tried a different approach to our Parent Support Meetings. We invited Peter Hanlon, Bereavement Therapist with the HSE to come along and over three consecutive meetings Peter would take them through the feelings and emotions of their grief. Highlighting the differences and similarities between men and women's thinking and expression of their grief. Peter gave examples of his experiences supporting both mothers and fathers.He also covered the topics of considering another pregnancy and coping with another pregnancy.He welcomed questions from parents attending and at each meeting there were many who asked questions that probably everyone needed or wanted the answers to.After Peters presentation at each meeting we have a cuppa and everyone gets the chance to have an informal chat with the other parents attending or they can just listen to what being said which can also be helpful. Not everyone feels like talking and especially if it is your fi rst meeting so it is always okay to come along and just take from it what you need.It seems that this is for now the preferred format for meetings and we will continue to hold meetings for this year in this particular format. The review is still ongoing of all ISANDS services and a decision will be taken on Parent Support Meetings over the coming months.We will try to list details of all forthcoming Parent Support Meetings when they are fi nalised.Keep an eye on the website and we will also update message on main line number 01 872 6996.Images of the four Quilts taken from the website. If you have not yet placed a patch in memory of your baby and would like to please visit www.isands.ie and take a look.isands newsletter28