BY DI SNEDDON
Kiss from a Rose Charity Ball, supporting Bears of Hope is on this Saturday, September 10.
It is a significant date.
On September 13, 2022, Rose Carey, after spending 36 weeks in the warmth and comfort of her mother’s womb, arrived into the world but did not take a breath, instead stillborn.
Danielle and Jacob Carey thank their family, friends and the community for the support they received at the time and continue to receive but that doesn’t take away from the significant loss and grief they have experienced.
Speaking to The Hunter River Times, Danielle said the shock loss, the hope they had for their first child and the depth of grief they experienced is something they continue to work through every moment of every day.
There were days when it was just so difficult to simply get out of bed, days they wanted to hide and escape but behind it all they wanted the memory of Rose to live on.
While in hospital, after Rose was born, a little package arrived from Bears of Hope. It is an organisation that attempts to give hope and support to parents who have miscarried a child, delivered stillborn or experienced the loss of a baby soon after birth.
Danielle and Jacob didn’t look in that package for a while, it was just too hard to breath, let alone absorb anything else but air.
When they did, these young parents realised they were not alone and in that Bears of Hope package they found hope.
Danielle reached out and spoke to the co-founder of the organisation, Toni Watson, and this amazing woman gave them the key to knowing life can go on and it can go on with Rose very much part of their lives. They were astounded that Toni also lives in Singleton and helped establish this organisation as a result of her own grief. It is now supporting parents in the same situation Australia wide with support, information, contact with services and free counselling all supported through Bears of Hope fundraising.
“It is a forum that I say Rose’s name and know I can do it without the fear of perhaps difficult
conversations, emotions or making people feel uncomfortable,” Danielle said.
“We have amazing friends and extremely supportive family but having that conversation with other
people who know first-hand the loss is another conversation, it is so nice to say Rose’s name in this
environment,” Danielle said.
Toni is the guest speaker at the ball at Singleton Rugby Club on Saturday night. Danielle, fellow organisers Brooke Williams and Rachel Baigent are thrilled 260 people will be attending. They are grateful for the support of local businesses who have offered raffle and auction prizes. Those unable to go to the ball can still donate towards the night’s total by reaching out to Danielle via her website rosieprojects.com.au with 100 percent of donations going to Bears of Hope to support those who have been and are in the same situation as Danielle and Jacob.
“Quite simply, it is about hope and this is what the organisation gives us,” Danielle said as beautiful daughter Molly spits banana pancakes and mashed avo all over the kitchen bench.
And what a delight that little Molly is.
