more about nothing v2

My friend Tarlia was expecting to give birth to her second son this year.

However, Jayden died on December 19, at 19 weeks gestation.

In Australia, if a baby dies after 12 weeks gestation, the mother is either induced, or a caesarian section is performed to deliver the baby.  BUT, it's not until 20 weeks gestation (or if the baby weighs over 400g) that the baby is eligible for a birth (and death) certificate.

What that means, is that even though my friend gave birth to Jayden, there is no birth certificate to say he existed. Even though there was an autopsy, there is no death certificate to say he died.

As you can imagine, to a grieving parent, this is a double blow.

Tarlia has never been one to take things lying down.  She has since spoken with the Attorney-General's office and has met with Members of Parliament - specifically Family First member Robert Brokenshire.  As a result, a Bill is being submitted to Parliament called "Jayden's Bill".

According to the front page of today's Advertiser, "Jayden's Bill" (among other things) is asking for recognition of all stillborn babies after 12 weeks' gestation. This recognition gives parents the option to register the birth and death and recieve birth and death certificates.

If you live in South Australia, can you please contact your local MP and encourage them to support this Bill? 

It may seem like such a small change in legislation, but to grieving parents, this could mean everything.

UPDATE (25.01.12):

A Facebook group has now been established to aid awareness and also assist with collection of signatures for the petition to be submitted with the bill. If you are from South Australia, I would love to encourage you to do all you can to gather signatures in support of this Bill. Please join the group here:

Support Jayden's Law for early stillborn babies

Tarlia's campain is gaining momentum and has been featured again in the Advertiser and also in the Port Lincoln Times:

• The Advertiser (Editorial Column)
• The Port Lincoln Times article

i thank You God for most this amazing

day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,

and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth

day of life and love and wings:and of the gay

great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing

breathing any-lifted from the no

of all nothing-human merely being

doubt unimaginably You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and

now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

e.e. cummings

I think Part 4 will forever be my favourite :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Jears!

My current favourite thing.

Last night was the "second part" of our annual Pasifika night at Inspire Church.

These are just two of the many highlights from last night:

"Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to say to us, “I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.” Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is here, at the foot of the cross that we shrink to our true size."

John Stott (1921-2011)

(via Tim Challies)

via The Cool Hunter