The procession will take place on Sunday 11 October as part of a series of events to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week which runs from October 9 to 15 this year.
The Lantern Walk is part of a series of events funded by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity. In addition, hospitals at Lincoln, Boston and Grantham will be lit up pink and blue, as well as Lincoln Cathedral and other local landmarks, during the week.
For the walk, starting from Lincoln Bishops University at 6pm, families will meet to light their lanterns in a symbolic wave of light before walking together to Lincoln Cathedral. At the cathedral entrance, the lanterns will be arranged in the shape of a heart, after which participants will be invited inside to light a candle and spend time reflecting on and remembering their babies.
Andrew and Zoe from Gainsborough will be joining the procession to remember their precious son, Zachary who sadly died in 2018 when Zoe was 20 weeks pregnant.
“The day we went for the scan was to be such a happy day,” said Andrew. “Zachary was already very much loved by the whole family, and we had taken his brother and sister to see him too. But it turned into a very different day, as this was the day we found Zachary had gained his wings and gone to heaven.”
Telling the family that Zachary had passed away was when Andrew and Zoe realised that different generations struggled to handle the news. The older members of the family shared their condolences but then never mentioned Zachary again, whilst younger family would talk but were very careful and still are about how they talk about Zachary.
Rachel Bond, Specialist Midwife at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LUTH), understands only too well how Andrew and Zoe felt. She explained: “Sadly, although baby loss is far more common than many people realise, it remains a subject that can be difficult to talk about. Baby Loss Awareness Week is about challenging those taboos and highlighting the importance of supporting families following the loss of a pregnancy or the death of a baby.”
“As we walk alongside families on the Lantern Walk, we will show that they remain very much in our thoughts long after they leave our care. Every baby matters to us. Regardless of gestation or whether they were born alive, each baby is loved, remembered and deeply important.”
During Baby Loss Awareness Week hospital chapels will display trees of remembrance and Lincoln Cathedral will also have a quiet space available for anyone to visit for reflection and to light a candle.
The week culminates with the global “Wave of Light” on Wednesday 15 October, when families across the world will light a candle at 7pm to remember all babies that have died too soon.
After the loss of Zachary, Andrew and Zoe received a teddy bear from the Aching Arm’s charity. So touched by their compassion, they now volunteer for the charity and support other families.
“This has also given us the chance to raise the awareness of baby loss,” said Andrew. “We are playing a small part of changing what is a very taboo subject to one that is now becoming more acknowledged and spoken about.”
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Manager, Ben Petts, said: “Supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week demonstrates our passion for delivering compassionate care to patients and families, not just when they are in hospital but also in their care afterwards.”
The lantern walk is limited to 250 participants. Due to high numbers of families expected to attend, and to avoid disappointment, it is advised to book a space.