On the occasion of Perinatal Loss Day (June 13), which we are celebrating for the fifth time in Bulgaria, the Poppies for Mary Foundation invites you to the presentation of the book “My Sister Maya from Heaven” (author and compiler: Boyana Petkova) and an exhibition of illustrations by Vessela Kucheva!
The book tells the story of little Marta, whose family lost their second baby girl, Maya, before birth. Its goal is to open a space for conversation between parents and children on this difficult topic, to give them confidence that such a conversation can take place, and to encourage them, because both parties need it. We have also included a “text for parents”, in which we have tried to provide guidelines for the possible feelings and thoughts of older children in families experiencing loss, as well as some practical psychological “guidelines” for dealing with the situation.
In our country, we still have a hard time talking about perinatal loss, it is still almost invisible, there is still the perception that this is not a “real” loss. The book also contains stories from already grown children about how family trauma has affected their lives as adults. From their stories it becomes clear that this loss, like any other, needs to be taken into account and made visible, discussed and integrated into the family history, otherwise it leaves a deep and sometimes destructive mark.
And yet, this is a book for children, and children's experiences are different from ours, as is clearly seen from the illustrations by Vessela Kucheva. They are immediate and sometimes illogical for us, but they have their own sound internal logic, rooted in children's thinking and perception of the world and others - the closest ones - the mother and father.
Come, let's open this space for conversation, both in the family and in society. Let's make our children visible "from heaven".
– Boyana and Vesela
Opening: June 16, 2017, 6:30 PM
Location: The Art Of Love Bakery, 48 Hristo Smirnenski Blvd.
Closing: June 22, 2017
Source: FV event
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