The death of a child is a heartfelt experience like no other.
It is a deep grief experience that goes beyond words.

The loss affects bereaved parents emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. It makes more demands on them than most others ever realise.

Many bereaved parents say that the only people who can ever genuinely begin to understand what it’s like for them are other bereaved parents. Hearing from others who have ‘been there’ can make all the difference. For this reason, Beyond Words is a handbook that features the honest words, perspectives and suggestions of many bereaved parents. It also offers useful information about managing grief, support options and ideas that may be helpful on the grief journey.

It is comforting, encouraging, informative and practical.

It will also provide understanding and insights to professionals and others seeking to effectively support and companion the bereaved.

To order your copy today click here

Close and safe

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

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

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.

“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 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.

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.

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