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Infant Loss

An Evening for Ella and Friends on October 15, 2015

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“An Evening for Ella and Friends” was established after the loss of Mel McMahon’s 10 week, five day old daughter, Ella, on April 22, 2008.  We come together as a community to remember the babies that have passed and provide support and resources to the families, friends, and caregivers affected by infant loss.

Nationally, 26,000 stillbirths and 4,000 infants under one year of age die unexpectedly. In an average week in Indiana, 174 babies are born preterm, 126 babies are born low birth weight, and 12 babies die before their first birthday.”

October is SIDS, Pregnancy, and Infant Loss Awareness Month and October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remeberance Day. Mel’s baby passed of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). More than 140 babies will be honored at this event.

An Evening for Ella and Friends 2012

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On Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 7 pm, the fourth annual “An Evening for Ella and Friends” will be held on the south stairs of Indiana War Memorial.  A memorial service will be held to remember the lives of infants lost to SIDS, miscarriage, stillbirth, and all other types of sudden infant loss—as well as those that will continue to be lost.  The public is invited to attend this rain or shine event.

An Evening for Ella and Friends is proud to announce this year’s promotion of Healthy Start and Marion County Health Department’s initiatives. Indianapolis Healthy Start offers education, referral and support services to pregnant women and their families with the goal to eliminate the disparities in birth outcomes and infant survival rates in MarionCounty.

“An Evening for Ella and Friends was established after the loss of our 10 week old daughter, Ella, on April 22, 2008.  We hope to help parents prevent their baby’s last night of sleep and at the same time, help them find the support they need to get through the devastation of miscarriage, still birth, or infant loss.  We want people to remember the babies that have passed away so we can give the best possible care to those babies fortunate enough to still be with us,” said Mel McMahon, event organizer and community activist.  Ella McMahon-Hodges passed away at just 10 weeks, five days old of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

To learn more about this event, call Mel McMahon at (317) 446-3864 or email AnEveningForElla@gmail.com. Interested individuals can access information on ways they can help create awareness and/or show support for families and babies in their local communities by visiting http://www.mchd.com/mch.htm.