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Australian mum Mikhailla Fitzgerald has turned the tragedy of losing her newborn baby to a common infection, into a way to help children through grief and loss.

In March 2017, Mikhailla gave birth to her first child, a baby boy called Foxx. But the joy of welcoming her son quickly disappeared when, just five hours after his birth Foxx was diagnosed with Group B Strep Sepsis. He died at just three days old.


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One year later Mikhailla had her baby daughter Elle, and her arrival prompted the grieving mum to pen two children’s books on grief and loss. This year the books have finally been released, helping the family heal through their education of others.

My Sibling Above and Love From Above ‘gently guide children through the thorny subject of grief and loss, while also enabling them to commemorate lost loved ones’.

“It still upsets me knowing we will carry that pain with us for life,” Mikhailla said. “But we know that happiness and purpose can be found again after pain and loss.”

Love-From-Above

My Sibling Above was written with Mikhailla’s daughter Elle and son Cruz in mind, and for all children who have siblings ‘ dancing in the sky’.

Love From Above is an easy-to-understand rhyming story that is made to be read over and over. It’s designed to help children feel more comfortable with talking about those who’ve passed away.

“I believe in the importance of teaching children to speak freely about what they’re going through,” Mikhailla said. “And I believe in approaching subjects with openness and honesty, no matter how hard it may be. I wrote these books to help little people understand that although their loved ones may not be on earth anymore, there is still light and happiness to be found in remembering them.

Grief-books-for-children

“Rather than shielding our children from the depths of our despair, it is instead a gift to be able to bestow on them resilience and understanding of life’s ups and downs. For them to be able the carry the memories of precious loved ones in their heart is a wonderful thing, and I’m glad to be in a position to support this.”

A portion of the books’ proceeds are being donated to charity, with $2700 so far donated to Project Rescue Children and $1,000 to the Luna Capri Foundation.

Each of the books cost $29 and are available from Mikhailla’s website Wholeheartedly.

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  • This is a lovely way to honour their baby and it would be very helpful for other families.

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  • Such a heart breaking story and beautiful way to honour child.

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  • Beautiful and will be very helpful for many families.

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  • What a fantastic creation you have made. You are to be commended for using your hurt to help others

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  • What a wonderful way for the grieving Mum to cope. Such a good idea as the siblings are hurting too.

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  • This is so heartwarming and brave. What a valuable contribution.

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  • That would be such a hard experience to share, hopefully this helps many people including the author and their family

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  • So sorry for your loss as it is so hard to get through that pain. I commend what you have done in writing these books as I am sure you will help many more than you know how to come to terms with their grief and both parents and their children will be greatly helped. Than you, Mikhailla.

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  • I commend her on finding a way to deal with her grief and to share with other Mum’s and children a way to cope with a loss of a loved one

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  • What a lovely legacy and gift this book is for any bereaved families/siblings. Out of the darkness has come a rainbow and this will help many families, especially young children. I love that it’s rhyming versed as well.

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  • Tragic but beautiful story

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  • So tragic for the family but how beautiful that they now have books to share with other families to help them explain of siblings that have passed.

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  • What a tragic story and how brave

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  • It’s a terrible thing for her to have gone through, but hopefully through her sadness, she can help other families. All the best to the family going forward.

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  • thats such a special way to explain to a young child how to process their grief

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  • It’s heartbreaking to hear what happened.

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  • Losing a child is terrible and these books would surely help others going through the same grief.

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  • What a beautiful thing for her to do! These books will help lots of people.

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  • I’m so sorry for their loss but these look like beautiful books and they will hopefully help others.

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  • Such a beautiful idea to create something to teach others after your heartbreaking loss. I imagine you felt the need to do something, and this is such a beautiful way to commemorate your first born and also to share with your future children. I wish a book like this had been around a long time ago. Thank you xx

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