Change For Our Children - pepi-pod

Close and safe

Like its sister, the wahakura, the pepi-pod enables babies to be close to a parent and safe when settling for sleep, wherever that may be. The pepi-pod is the safe space but parents must also provide the safe care. This means 'face-up, face clear, smokefree' conditions every time their baby sleeps. 

What is a pepi-pod?

Pepi means baby in Maori and pod is symbolic of protection in nature. A pepi-pod is a general purpose storage box that converts to a baby sized bed with the addition of an attractive cover, fitting mattress and bedding. It offers babies a safe space when tehy sleep in or on an adult be, on a couch, in a makeshift setting or away from home. These are settings with a higher risk of suffocation.

Who are they for?

Pepi-pods are not for all babies. They are a public health solution to the increased risk of sudden infant death for babies with a weakened drive to breathe due to: smoking in pregnancy, being premature, a low birth weight, formula fed or for some other reason.  

What is the package?

We are currently providing a complete package of: pod, mattress, cover, 2 base sheets, 2 wrap around 'settling' sheets, a double layer merino blanket and a thorough safety briefing and education programme for distributors.

A whole community approach

It needs to be a low cost package to compete as a health funded strategy. To achieve this we have support from across the community. People have sewn covers and sheet sets, companies have provided goods or services at subsidised prices, and health funders have accepted proposals from committed professionals and managers. Concerned professionals are identifying vulnerable babies in need of a pepi-pod, credentialed distributors are briefing parents at pick-up and pepi-pod recipients are helping to spread the education within their networks. This is community at its best!

Change For Our Children website

Support SIDS & Kids Queensland - Pro Hart - Josephs Painting

On the 16th September 1989, Little Joseph Willoughby died suddenly at only seven months of age. His death has been established as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, previously known as Cot death.

Little Joseph was the Grandson of the famous Pro Hart, both pro and his wife Raylee have been deeply affected by this tragedy. Joseph was the second child of Craig and Julie Willoughby
(Son-in-law and Daughter) of Pro Hart.

On the morning of his grandson's funeral, Pro went into the desert to reflect, and while there picked a bunch of Wildflowers for his daughter to place on Joseph's grave.

However at arriving home following the funeral, Julie was still clutching the array of wildflowers. It was then her father caringly took the flowers to be put into water, but was moved to make a lasting epitaph for Joseph.

So on taking the flowers, he then, overwhelmed by grief, locked himself in his studio, and set about capturing the life, Colour and Movement represented in the flowers. This painting has become a form of memorial to Joseph's memory. Joseph's painting is a refection of the abstract feelings that come with such tragedy, yet offer hope through the use of vibrant colours and unrestrained application of the paint.    Julie and Craig have the support of a strong Christian family, but are aware that this is not always the case, and wanted in some way to offer hope and help to other grieving families who face the devastating loss. So the Joseph Willoughby Foundation was set up to raise funds for research, awareness and practical help for families who are suffering through a SIDS related death.

To order  Pro Hart's Prints "from the heart" please contact SIDS and Kids Queensland

07 3849 7122

Swallowed By The Snake - Thomas R. Golden

 

HURRY LIMITED STOCK!:

Swallowed by a Snake is a book for men and women about the masculine side of healing from loss. Discover new and powerful ways to heal. How the genders differ in thei healing. Greater understanding between partners. Examples of successful and uniqueness. New ways to understand your grief. Ways the individual's loss can impact the entire family. Swallowed by a Snake is meant to be a map and a guide trough the experience of loss. It will help you move through the pain of loss and into a place of healing and transformation.

Please do feel free to email bereavementsupport@xtra.co.nz for prices, shipping costs and ordering.

Baby Gone - Jenny Douche - True New Zealand stories of infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss

True New Zealand stories of infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss

 

When our babies have gone it's a heartache that no one can heal, but our shared bond is something that no one can take from us.

 

Inside this book are 45 true New Zealand stories about living with infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss. The stories are written from the heart by those affected. If you, or someone you know, is missing a part of their lives, this book may give great comfort. Hold it close and dear.

 

Baby Gone has been created by Jenny Douché to help provide solace to those who are missing a part of their lives.

 Buy this book

River Of Dreams CD

Are you, or your children, anxious, stressed and not sleeping easily?

“River of Dreams” is a cd designed to help create deep levels of Calm, Confidence and Capability in ways that intertwine with an ever-changing story, which can be listened to at bedtime.

Created with children in mind and suitable for the whole family, it is particularly useful for anyone feeling anxious, stressed and having difficulty relaxing or sleeping.

For more details or to purchase your copy click here

Tear Soup - A Recipe For Healing After Loss

Tear Soup recognizes and reinforces the fact that every member of the family from the youngest to the oldest will grieve in their own way.  Taking their own time and in doing so, find those things which  help them best.  Essentially, we each make our own batch of Tear Soup when we grieve the loss of someone we love or for any major change in our lives.  We make Tear Soup when we move far away from the ones we love, or lose our job.  

Tear Soup is Universal.  No one is left out.  Because we never learn exactly who or what Grandy lost and why she is making Tear Soup, the story remains open to countless situations of bereavement and family members.  By emphasizing the individual process of bereavement by making soup, Grandy's brings a warm and comfortable feeling to an otherwise difficult subject matter for many individuals. 



Please do feel free to email bereavementsupport@xtra.co.nz for prices, shipping costs and ordering.

Ciara's Gift: Grief Edged with Gold By Una Glennon

In 1997, the murder of her daughter Ciara left a mother and her family shattered by grief. Ciara’s Gift, expressed with honesty and insight, is the story of the mother’s often lonely search for meaning after this cruel and devastating event. In a series of deeply moving and thought-provoking memories and reflections, Una Glennon weaves us through the shadowland of grief to eventually emerge with a deeper understanding and acceptance of suffering and the fragility of life. It is the book she would never have wished to write but became compelled to write, as a gift from her daughter to every parent who has experienced the death of a child.

Please do feel free to email bereavementsupport@xtra.co.nz for prices, shipping costs and ordering.

Baby Sam - A Book by Liz Tamblyn



Liz Tamblyn, a Sands Bay of Plenty member, has written and illustrated a beautiful book for children on stillbirth and the loss of a sibling - entitled Baby Sam.

The book was co-written with her son Jack, who was four at the time of her son's death.

Liz wrote the book because there were very few such books at the time Sam died, especially books that were written from a sibling's perspective.

Purchase from this website and a donation from every sale will go to our local Canterbury Sands branch.

Please do feel free to email bereavementsupport@xtra.co.nz for prices, shipping costs and ordering.

Duck, Death and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch

In a strangely heart-warming story, a duck strikes up an unlikely friendship with Death.

“Who are you? Why are you creeping along behind me?”
“Good. You’ve finally noticed me,” said Death.
“I am Death.”
Duck was scared stiff. You could hardly blame her for that.

Death, Duck and the Tulip is the much anticipated translation of Wolf Erlbruch’s latest masterpiece.

Death, Duck and the Tulip will intrigue, haunt and enchant , children, teenagers and adults.

Simple, unusual, warm and witty — a picture book version of The Book Thief. This book deals with a difficult subject in a way that is elegant, straightforward, and thought-provoking.

Please do feel free to email bereavementsupport@xtra.co.nz for prices, shipping costs and ordering.

All The Dear Animals by Wolf Erlbruch

Review

updating...

Ursula Dubosarsky, Blast Off-The School Magazine, Australia, April 2008

This is a funny book about something sad. A funeral is the special ceremony held when someone dies. People at funerals may feel very, very sad, especially if the person who has died is someone they love. So how can a story about funerals be happy? Sometimes, when you think about something sad, you can feel nervous as well, and try to make a joke. Laughing can help you feel less afraid. Maybe this is what's happening in this book, All the dear little animals by a wonderful writer, Ulf Nilsson. Like all of us, the boy who is telling the story is afraid of dying. One day, his friend Esther decides to set up a funeral business for dead animals. She digs little graves and holds funerals for dead bees, mice, fish--whatever they can find. The boy writes poems to be read aloud at the graveside, and Esther's little brother, Puttie, feels miserable and cries. They're a team! This book is from Sweden, a country in Europe, and so the story was actually written in Swedish. But what you'll read is in English, because it has been translated, which means changed from one language to another. This is a very difficult thing to do, and I think the translator, Julia Marshall, has done it beautifully. It's a funny, sad story, and it's also warm and full of love. You can tell that just be looking at Eva Eriksson's magical pictures. Don't be afraid to read it. It's about the wonder of lives beginning and ending, as all lives do, even the short little lives of tiny ants.

Please do feel free to email bereavementsupport@xtra.co.nz for prices, shipping costs and ordering.

Sometimes Life Sucks by Molly Carlile

Molly Carlile's lastest book: Teenagers experience loss in all kinds of ways. Whether it's the death of a grandparent, pet or school friend, a teen fatality, a peer with terminal illness, living without a mum or dad, or the death of a celebrity, like everyone else teenagers also struggle to come to terms with their shock and grief. Full of tips, stories and gentle advice, 'Sometimes Life Sucks'.

Please do feel free to email bereavementsupport@xtra.co.nz for prices, shipping costs and ordering.

Jelly Bean's Secret by Molly Carlile

A book by Molly Carlile Written by Molly Carlile-a leading grief and loss counsellor, educator and consultant-this is the story of nine-year-old Abby and her very special Grandma 'Jelly Bean'. It is a story of the things they like to do together, especially finding treasures on the beach for their secret project. Also available is Molly's latest resource: "Sometimes Life Sucks" Teenagers experience loss in all kinds of ways. Whether it's the death of a grandparent, pet or school friend, a teen fatality, a peer with terminal illness, living without a mum or dad, or the death of a celebrity, like everyone else teenagers also struggle to come to terms with their shock and grief. Full of tips, stories and gentle advice, 'Sometimes Life Sucks' is written for teens to help them navigate their personal experience of grief. An expert in the care of the dying and a strong advocate of understanding children's grieving processes.

Please do feel free to email bereavementsupport@xtra.co.nz for prices, shipping costs and ordering.

The Gifts of Grief - A Film by Nancee Sobonya

A Film and Guidebook resource by Nancee Sobonya. "Gifts of Grief is a most inspiring and moving film about death and bereavement. I came to it expecting sentimentality, instead I found wise people talking about their own personal experience of bereavement as a formative experience from which they and we all have much to learn".

Colin Murray Parkes, President of Cruse Bereavement Care, Consultant Psychiatrist to St.Christopher’s Hospice, London, and author of Bereavement: Studies of Grief in Adult Life.

Dvds and the Companion Guidebook available.

Please do feel free to email bereavementsupport@xtra.co.nz for prices, shipping costs and ordering.