Oct. 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. This day was designated by all 50 states in the US through the efforts of Robyn Bear (a lovely fellow-Texas girl!)

On this day, at 7 p.m. your time, grieving families light a candle for their babies lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, or early perinatal death for one hour. As each time zone extinguishes their candles, the next one will light theirs, creating the continuous Wave of Light across the world.

Some families opt to do this alone at home. Others will invite friends, family, or fellow baby loss moms to come over. Across the world, official walks and candle lightings are formed. To see if there is one near you, check this page: http://www.october15th.com/activities-walks/

Here in Austin, Texas, I have hosted the candle lighting for many years.

We will be down at the pond behind the Long Center. (This area is called Butler Park and is near the lighted fountains, at the base of the hill.) We will light our candles between 7 and 8 p.m.

Parking is easiest along Riverside or in the lot off Dawson Road. Most of the runners are leaving, so you can usually find a spot if you see someone heading to their car. You should be able to spot us by our candles and signs. I will have candles for everyone, and many parents will bring theirs too.

Here is a map.

If you need music to play during your hour, I have compiled a list of YouTube videos that will play in order and be long enough for your hour.

Two new things this year:

• I started the Butterfly Project, which is a social media movement to post butterfly images to the pages of families who have experienced a loss to show them you remember.
• My newest baby loss book, Forever Innocent, was released October 1 and has hit all the bestseller lists at the retailers. It’s been a phenomenal year for getting the story of baby loss into the mainstream awareness.

Watch the book trailer to Forever Innocent here to get a sense of the book (double click to see large):

Peace and love you all of you lighting candles tonight.