Phase 1 (where we are today)
As we find our footing as newly bereaved parents our primary goal is to give meaning to our daughter’s short life. We will use Helen’s Place to build awareness for perinatal and infant loss, raising money and making large sum donations–in Helen’s name–to two worthy organizations that have provided invaluable support to our family and many families like us:
Roger Neilson House
Roger Neilson House is a hospice for pediatric palliative care built on grounds of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (and part of the CHEO Foundation). Their service offerings include specialized bereavement counselling, support, and programming for perinatal and infant loss within the Ottawa area.
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
NILMDTS offers the gift of healing, hope and honor to parents experiencing the death of a baby through the overwhelming power of remembrance portraits. Professional-level photographers volunteer their time to conduct an intimate portrait session, capturing the only moments parents spend with their babies. Parents are gifted with delicately retouched heirloom black and white portraits free of charge.
Phase 2
In the next year we will continue to formalize our vision and build a detailed business plan for Helen’s Place. As we put pen to paper on these plans we will shift the focus of our fundraising to generate capital for building phase 3 of Helen’s Place.
Phase 3
Once we’ve raised the necessary capital, we will build and operationalize our full vision for Helen’s Place, including programming, memorial gifts, and physical space.