Midwife Hazel McCalister’s legacy lifts bereaved families
The family of much loved Ulster Hospital midwife Hazel McCalister, has raised almost £3,000 for the Forget Me Not Focus Group in memory of the compassionate healthcare professional who dedicated more than 40 years of her life to caring for women and families.
Hazel, who sadly passed away in 2021, was passionate about supporting families experiencing the loss of a baby.
Her family chose to honour her legacy by fundraising for the Forget Me Not Focus Group, which provides support to bereaved parents cared for by the South Eastern Trust.
The group, based within Maternity Services, brings together parents who have experienced the loss of a baby or child.
It funds and manages the Bereavement Suite within the Ulster Hospital Maternity Unit and organises an annual family fun day and tree planting service in the ‘Forget Me Not’ woodland at Billy Neill Country Park, creating a peaceful place of remembrance close to the Ulster Hospital.
Together, Hazel’s family raised an impressive £2,803 through a series of fundraising events.
Her son Paddy, a keen marathon runner, took on the Belfast City challenge in May.
Hazel’s granddaughter, eight-year-old Cora, along with her Donaghadee Primary School friends, also took on their own fundraising challenge, cycling from Donaghadee to Groomsport and back.
Hazel’s daughter Aimée shared how proud she was of her daughter and family for raising such a tremendous amount for the group.
“Mum was a midwife for over 40 years and passed away five years ago in 2021”, she said.
"One of her passions was always supporting families who had suffered bereavement. Whenever mum passed, the Forget Me Not Focus Group planted a tree in her memory at the Billy Neill Playing Fields in Comber.
"This was, and is, especially poignant for us as a family, as it is where the annual Forget Me Not tree planting ceremony takes place to remember all those babies who have passed away during and after child birth.
"The bereavement midwives at the Ulster Hospital always talk about how mum, as a midwife, is overlooking the babies by the duck pond in the park. It means so much to us.”
Aimée continued: “My brother Paddy is a marathon runner and had always wanted to do Belfast as he lives in Bournemouth with his family. Paddy trained for months and months and he did brilliantly.
"We had so such support. My daughter Cora wanted to do something to support Paddy and we decided to cycle from Donaghadee to Groomsport and back.
"They were amazing and Cora was supported by her friends. My husband’s golf society, Granda Jack’s, also had a charity day and raised £400.
“We are really pleased we were able to support Paddy in memory of our mum and raise the funds for Forget Me Not. I am so proud of Cora and all her friends as it was quite the undertaking for them too.
“We want to thank all the children who participated on the cycle day including Freja Potter, Archie and Eli Leetch.
Forget Me Not Focus Group’s Grace Coutts, whose daughter Rosa was born sleeping in 2019, added how much the donation meant.
“This donation means everything to us as a group”, she said.
"It means we can help bereaved families and doing everything in the name of our wee children, who we have lost, means so much. We are very thankful to the McCalister family for thinking of us and their extremely kind generosity and fundraising efforts.”
Interim Bereavement Support Midwife, Carole Duncan, added: “We are truly grateful to the McCalister family for their wonderful efforts, from the children’s impressive cycle to Paddy’s Belfast Marathon challenge.
"The generosity and commitment of everyone involved will help us continue supporting our families affected by baby loss.”