A single lit candle stands as a symbol of a babies light extinguished too soon.
On Oct. 15, people around the world and in Lloydminster and Vermilion will light candles to remember lost loved ones.
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“October marks pregnancy and infant loss month,” said Alexa Conlon, founder and coordinator of the Alberta non-profit, The Kayde Foundation. “Oct. 15, specifically, marks a day in time where families across the world can really pause to honour their babies gone too soon.”
The Kayde Foundation is a local non-profit that provides support, resources and communities for families who have experienced infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, infant or child death in Rural Alberta, through partnerships with hospitals.
The event will take place in people’s homes in the evening of Oct. 15.
“At 7 p.m., you light your candle and allow it to burn for one hour,” said Conlon. “Essentially, it creates a wave of light across the globe.”
While the event will take place virtually this year, Conlon hopes to expand the event next year.
“Hopefully, in the future, we can have something community-based, but for now, we gather over social media,” she said.
Posts will be made on the day of the event, sharing pictures and videos of candles and people honouring loved ones.
“It’s a simple way for family members to honour the baby without having to have the conversation,” said Conlon.
The event aims to unite families across the globe.
“You’re creating the narrative that no family should have to walk through this kind of loss alone,” she said. “By joining the wave of light, we acknowledge the grief and we honour the babies and their families who have gone through the unimaginable.
“It’s an easy way to show compassion to those who carry this weight every day and allow us to pause and reflect and remember and connect with those who are walking this journey, sometimes in silence.”
The non-profit has also created Wave of Light candles for people to purchase for the event.
“We have candles that are Wave of Light-specific through the foundation,” said Conlon.
Candles can be purchased across the organization’s social media by searching Kayde Foundation or on their website, thekaydefoundation.wixsite.com/thekaydefoundation3.
People are encouraged to post photos of their candles on Oct. 15. Conlon says they’ll be sharing their own photos and video on The Kayde Foundation’s social media.
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