Precious Keepsakes for Families
Accessing end of life care for children can be an incredibly difficult experience for families. BCHC Charity work closely with both adults and children’s end of life services to do what we can to help families process difficult diagnoses, manage their grief, and create beautiful memories and keepsakes for families to treasure forever.
The Children’s Palliative Care team approached BCHC Charity with the idea to offer families a hand or foot cast for children under their care, allowing parents to create a poignant and meaningful keepsake commemorating the life of their child. These moulds are a wonderful way for families to remember their loved ones after they have passed away.
Nussrat Parveen, Family Liaison Officer, said; “By capturing hand or feet casts, we are creating an ever-lasting memory for the families on our caseload. This is something that they will cherish all their lives. It is the closest connection they will have with their child once they are no longer here.”
The procedure is a simple process where hands or feet are pressed gently into an alginate mixture for 2 to 3 minutes. Plaster is then poured into the mould, and once set (after around 60 mins), the alginate is peeled away to reveal a model of the child’s hands or feet. Families can also choose to add silver or gold wax to decorate the keepsakes for display.
Charlotte, parent of a child who passed away in July, opted to have moulds made of her son’s hands. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With having the moulds done for our baby, we feel that he is still with us. He is in our hearts always but with having the moulds on display, his presence will always be with us.”
Another parent said, "Thank you so much for sharing the hand mould with me. It’s absolutely beautiful and brought back so many memories. Seeing all the little details, the rolls, his tiny fingernails, it reminded me of how I used to hold his hand. It's such a precious keepsake. Even with my hand mould with its imperfections, it has turned into a funny little memory I will always treasure. These moulds really are something special. You’re doing such a meaningful work."
It is only thanks to donations from our star supporters that we can continue to provide these sorts of lasting, precious memories for families. If you would like to find out more about how BCHC Charity supports those accessing end of life care, please take a look at our Dandelion appeal.