Castings help parents with grief

Rebecca and Clint Lochhead never got to hear the pitter-patter of their son’s feet, but the tiny golden castings of them will hang on the wall of their home forever.

The couple were excited about the birth of their first child, a boy they had named Miller.

Rebecca said she didn’t experience any complications during her pregnancy. But two months ago, after a 10-hour labour Miller was stillborn. He had died about 15 minutes before Rebecca gave birth.

She said the ‘‘angel castings’’ of Miller’s hands and feet were an integral part of the couple’s grieving process and now they are fundraising through local charity Project Butterfly so other couples in need can have the same experience.

Rebecca said she was in shock for several days following the birth and they were thankful they could bring Miller home to meet friends and family.

Before she fell pregnant she heard about having castings made of a newborn’s hands and feet.

‘‘As soon as I knew we would only have him at home for a certain amount of time I just knew that I really wanted to have it done.’’

She said the result was incredibly personal and an important part of the couple’s grieving process.

‘‘A photo is brilliant but having something like that, we have got something we can actually hold and it is very special,’’ she said.

‘‘It is just a really nice way of showing he existed.’’

They were also able to have castings made for other members of their family.

The charity Project Butterfly, which supports parents after the loss of a child, was mentioned to Rebecca by several people after Miller died. It was some time until she picked up the courage to make contact.

‘‘It is a very personal thing but I think we should talk about it, it happens.’’

The couple wanted to be able to give back and support others. Having the castings made cost upwards of $270 which she said could be quite a financial burden when there were other costs mounting up.

Project Butterfly founder Rebekah Malthus said she was encouraging parents who had experienced the loss of a child to take charge and run their own projects under the charity’s umbrella.

‘‘Project Butterfly has helped me enormously get back on my feet and I think others should be able to be part of this healthy grief too.’’

Malthus hoped to raise $2000 which would enable 10 to12 families who have had a stillbirth or early loss of a child to have castings made in the first year.

A quiz night and silent auction fundraiser is being held at the Speights Ale House on Tuesday, October 11 at 6.30pm.

Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased by emailing hello@projectbutterfly.co.nz