The Aussie high school sweethearts behind a boutique stationery company – stocked in the likes of The Iconic, Myer and 2,000 other retailers – have launched a stunning Memorial Journal, dubbed the Forever In Our Hearts Journal, in honour of Red Nose Day this Friday August 11.
Janet Pogorelc and Darrell Kwong, who were born in Mount Isa but who now live in Brisbane, had been working in the wedding industry for years making stationery, chalkboards and timber signs for brides and grooms when they came up with their idea for their now multi-million-dollar company Fox & Fallow.
The couple’s new Forever In Our Hearts Journal (from $49.95) has been designed for bereaved parents who have experienced stillbirth or infant loss.
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Featuring a gender-neutral oatmeal linen cover, gilded edges and foiled tear-out keepsake pages, the journal has four parts designed to help parents cope with loss: Mementos, Healing, About Me and Journal.
It launches to coincide with the 35th Red Nose Day this Friday August 11.
Janet told 7Life that she and Darrell decided to design a memorial journal after one of their customers, Alison, reached out to Fox & Fallow.
Alison had ordered a baby book from Fox & Fallow after weeks of searching for one to celebrate the birth of her first child, Lachlan.
But tragically, the book was delivered to her home while she and her partner were in the hospital being told their baby boy had died.
After a period, Alison reached out to Janet and Darrell suggesting they create a memorial book specifically for parents whose babies had died.
When Janet got the email, she knew she had to respond.
“I was moved by Alison’s story and really wanted to create this book, but I told her it would take some time,” Janet says.
Janet got to work and, after speaking to many women who had experienced stillbirth and many months of research, she created the Forever in our Hearts Journal: A Guided Memorial Journal for miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss.
She sent one to Alison, who told 7Life: “I am blown away by the incredible thought and care that has gone into this special book. It’s clear that a lot of careful consultation has gone into its design. There are so many things that are great about it.
“It includes sections with guidance and resources for dealing with grief, and ways to create memories with your baby.
“There’s plenty of space to write about how you as a parent feel at the different milestones”.
She added: “Best of all, the book does not shy away from the reality of loss”.
This year, Red Nose Day falls on August 11 – which coincidentally would have been Lachlan’s 3rd birthday.
Janet feels passionately about the cause, saying: “Evidence shows bereaved parents do not feel included or heard.
“After many of our dear friends experienced miscarriages or the loss of their babies, we realised that there were limited options for parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss”.
Over the past 30 years, funds raised on Red Nose Day have resulted in an incredible 80 per cent reduction in sudden infant death – that’s 11,357 babies and counting.
“We hope that over time, discussing miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss become more widely accepted so that people don’t feel like they have to experience these things alone,” Janet concludes.
“We know that your baby’s memory is special and worth preserving and through the different memento pages, you can choose to leave them as part of the journal, or tear them out and frame them if this feels right to you.”
She adds: “To anyone experiencing this unimaginable loss, we are so sorry that this is happening and that this journal has to exist at all”.
Fox & Fallow are committed to donating 10 per cent of all sales of the Memorial Journal to Red Nose to “further the cause and support those grieving”. To shop it, head here.
For anyone affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, baby or child death, call the Red Nose 24/7 Grief and Loss Support Line on 1300 308 307.