When a child's excitement at becoming a big sister turns to confusion and sorrow overnight, a family is faced with one of life's most difficult conversations. This is the powerful reality behind a new children's book, Skye & Luna, which aims to help families across the UK discuss baby loss with honesty and compassion.
Finding Words for the Unspeakable
The book was born from author Philippa Atkins' own heartbreaking experience. Her daughter, Skye, was thrilled to meet her new baby sister, Luna. The very next morning, however, Luna was no longer there. Philippa discovered a profound lack of language to explain this devastating loss, not just to a child but to adults as well.
"I wanted to create something that helps families talk about loss - not to make it less painful, but to make it less lonely," Philippa explains. Written through a child's eyes, the story gently explores the enduring love that remains after a baby's life is heartbreakingly short. "Skye & Luna is about helping families remember and speak about their babies with love, not silence," she says.
The Stark Reality of Baby Loss in the UK
This conversation is desperately needed, as baby loss is a tragically common experience. In the UK, it affects one in four pregnancies. Every year, the statistics are sobering:
- More than 2,500 babies are stillborn.
- Around 2,000 babies die within the first 28 days of life.
Despite these numbers, the subject remains deeply under-discussed, particularly with children. Many parents, intending to protect their families, resort to silence. Skye & Luna provides the vital language to break this silence, allowing parents, siblings, and grandparents to process their grief and include the lost baby in their ongoing family story.
Spreading Light and Support Through Community
The impact of the book is already being felt. Proceeds from sales support the Luna's Light Appeal, which raises vital funds for awareness and provides the book at low cost or for free to front-line caregivers and families who need it most.
The initiative has seen remarkable early success:
- The team has already printed 1,000 copies of Skye & Luna.
- More than 400 copies have been sold across Wales and the wider UK.
- They have formed key partnerships with midwives, hospitals, and community groups.
Furthermore, the Skye & Luna team is organising community events to fund additional print runs, ensuring this essential resource reaches as many people as possible. Families have already shared that the book has helped siblings and grandparents find the words for their own grief.
To find out more, order a copy of the book, or support the ongoing Skye & Luna crowdfunder, you can visit their official linktree at: https://linktr.ee/lunaslightappeal.
