Emily’s House Garden Memorial – A Repost from Lindsey Yeskoo, Emily’s Mom
Sunday afternoon was spent in a most beautiful and meaningful way with many other bereaved families attending the annual Garden Memorial at Emily’s House. Such an important event, halfway between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
We had every kind of weather except snow and hail under those tents, but the staff and volunteers truly did a spectacular job of making the most of our hours together. What a warm and hospitable welcome to us all! Photos of all our children were displayed on the trunks of two large trees. Plenty of food and drinks.
There was indeed a program. Each staff member and parent who participated in it was so thoughtful in their own unique way, whether moving us profoundly as they addressed us by words, or music and song, reading the name of each of our children out loud, carving out time for each family to place a stone engraved with their child’s name wherever we chose in the garden, even leading a time of complete silence at one point, honouring the lives our loved ones had lived and remembering what blessings they were in their own unique way. There were many tears flowing freely, and pockets of laughter too. There were lots of hugs to be shared and a quiet, respectful understanding between us all ~ nothing forced ~ as we gently interacted with each other in our different stages of grief.
Young siblings were able to have fun just outside the tents on the lawn and at fabulous activity tables.
The journey of learning to live without the physical presence of a child is daunting on many levels. The reality of the enormous processes at work within us as individuals and as families is frankly indescribable. “Handle with care!” There is enormous solace in simply coming together, each one belonging to the community and having the chance to realize once again that they are not the only one living this.
Yes, it is true: this year, Paul and I were both asked to participate by sharing a few thoughts towards the end, about our Emily and about Emily’s House… straight from a deep place in our hearts, without written notes. Yeskoos, raw and unscripted💜
#emilyshouse; #childrenshospice; #pediatricpalliativecare; #palliativecare; #hospicecare; #Hospice; #hospiceontario; #volunteering; #volunteertoronto
