The death of an infant, either soon after or even before birth, is always tragic. On Oct. 23, nearly 50 local families that have experienced that loss gathered in front of HCA Florida Capital Hospital in Tallahassee. Hospital OB/GYN Dr. Shawn Ramsey was one of the speakers at the special memorial.
"It's obviously one of the worst things we deal with in our line of work. This is just a way to let people know that the loss of their baby wasn't for naught. And it allows them to celebrate and to memorialize their loss. It's kind of a kick-start to help heal those wounds and help bring that grieving process hopefully to a close."
And Dr. Ramsey had this advice for anyone who's close to a person who's suffering this almost unimaginable loss.
"If you know someone who's gone through it, reach out to them. I'm sure they'll appreciate knowing that you're thinking about them and caring about them. It's one of those things I tell patients that it's an innocence lost once you've gone through it. You're not the same, but it doesn't have to be the end of you, either."
Participants at the memorial then released dozens of live butterflies. Each was a symbol of a young life taking flight far too soon.
