ENTREPRENEUR MOM TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES ON CAPITOL HILL IN AN EFFORT TO END INFANT STILLBIRTHS
“It is estimated that over 26,000 stillbirths occur each year in the United States!”

East Northport, NY – 60 guests have been invited to attend the First Candle Inaugural Stillbirth Symposium in Washington DC on October 22nd, and Susan Mosquera is one of only six New Yorkers honored with the request. Susan and the other attendees will be meeting with their representatives on Capitol Hill to discuss the need for improved research for the prevention of stillbirths (defined as the unintentional demise of a fetus after 20 weeks gestation).

After Susan’s son was stillborn in 2002, she has been working to raise awareness through the creation of handcrafted memorial keepsakes and remembrance jewelry for bereaved parents. Susan states that, “Grieving parents want their child to be remembered, acknowledged and not forgotten. Particularly with miscarriage and stillbirth, the general public does not recognize it as a ‘real loss’ and the mother and father are left to mourn in secrecy.”

A portion of every sale generated through her online store (www.myforeverchild.com) is donated to fund research, education, and the prevention of future child deaths. She is also a regular guest speaker at local perinatal bereavement support groups and participates in fundraisers for child advocacy organizations.

In September of 2006 House Resolution # 222 was passed in the House of Representatives supporting the goals and ideals of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day; as a result October 15th has been declared National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. The official website for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (october15th.com) requests that on October 15th, candles be lit at 7pm in every time zone so that there will be a continuous wave of light around the world in memory of the precious babies gone too soon.

Susan Mosquera offers these additional ideas to honor your child’s brief life:

· Contact your local radio and television news stations to have them announce that October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
· Attend a local remembrance ceremony or a “Walk to Remember”. Join a support group.
· Wear pink and blue ribbons on clothing. Put a pink and blue ribbon magnet on your car.
· Make a donation in memory of your baby to a child advocacy charity.
· Donate diapers, formula, baby clothes and items to community outreach programs.
· Donate supplies to crafters that make hats and blankets for premature and sick infants.
· Journal your feelings. Create a scrapbook. Make a memorial garden.
· Allow yourself to grieve the loss of your child. Take time to heal emotionally.

About My Forever Child:
Susan Mosquera has been handcrafting jewelry since 1999 and has earned the Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America. Since she founded My Forever Child two and a half years ago, her original designs, poetry, and personalized keepsakes have brought comfort and healing to over 3,000 heartbroken families internationally.