Honouring Elsa: Lois’s Journey as a Bereaved Parent Trustee
As Bereaved Parents Awareness Month draws to a close, we take a moment to honour Lois, one of our dedicated Trustees at Zoe’s Place. Lois brings a unique and invaluable perspective to our Board, having first connected with our baby hospice through the care we provided for her daughter, Elsa.
When Lois was first introduced to our services, she hesitated. “I felt it would be seen as though we were not coping, and we weren’t comfortable with anybody else looking after our daughter – when we arrived, I was immediately surprised,” she recalls. However, with each visit to Zoe’s Place, Lois noticed that Elsa was having “the best time at Zoe’s Place” and participating in activities that would not have been accessible to her anywhere else.
Tragically, Elsa passed away in 2023 at just three years old. Driven by a desire to give back and support other families facing similar challenges, Lois decided to become the first bereaved parent trustee at Zoe’s Place. “I wanted to do something to thank Zoe’s Place, and also to help other families like ours,” she shares.
Recently, Lois organised a fun-filled spring fete in Rugby, which featured an array of activities and a surprise appearance by Princess Elsa from Disney’s Frozen. “The spring fete was a great success and my heartfelt thanks go to all those who made it possible and the many people who came along and supported it, while having a fun time,” says Lois. The event raised over £9000 for Zoe’s Place, surpassing her expectations and inspiring her to plan another in the future.
Reflecting on her journey, Lois shares a deeply personal update about losing her beautiful daughter, Elsa. “Losing a child is like losing a vital organ. It amazes me that my body is still able to carry on breathing and living without her here. I often wake up and have a couple of glorious seconds where I think she is still with us and then reality comes crashing down. I still cannot believe that I will never get to cuddle her again, to look into her beautiful smiling face, to feel the weight of her in my arms and to watch her grow up. I feel as if a huge part of me left with Elsa and I am lost without her.”
Despite the unbearable pain, Lois is determined to honour Elsa’s memory. “She touched so many people in her short life and I will always make sure she is never forgotten. The pain is unbearable some days but I do everything I can to honour and remember her. She was such a brave warrior and I learnt so much from her. Any words I write cannot do Elsa justice. She was the most beautiful soul inside and out and we were like two peas in a pod.”
At Zoe’s Place, we hold in our hearts the incredible strength of bereaved parents. Your journey through grief is a testament to your enduring love. We are here to support and honour you always. Lois, thank you for sharing your story in honour of #bereavedparentsmonth. Your courage and dedication continue to inspire us all.
