In a heartfelt effort to support grieving families, Sandra Vargas, BSN, RN, CPLC, with the support of the maternal child health nursing unit council and management, organized a beautiful “Wave of Light” ceremony for perinatal loss, bringing healing to both parents, their loved ones, staff, physicians, and the community. The event, held on Thrive Drive at the Redwood City Hospital children’s playground, was designed to honor infant and pregnancy losses due miscarriage, stillbirth, and early neonatal death.
Sandra, a longtime labor and delivery nurse, was inspired by the global Wave of Light movement, a part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. With candles lit, in memory of each baby, families gathered to share stories, comfort one another, and simply be present in their grief. “To me grief is like a snow globe, there’s calm but when you shake it up, it becomes turbulent and raw. Tonight was a shakeup, but in a good way,” said Tiffany Allen-Vargas, an attendee at the ceremony. The ceremony reminded participants that they were not alone, lighting the way for collective healing.