By Amanda Nalley
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Originally published in the Tallahassee Democrat, October 13, 2010

Two years ago at her first Walk to Remember, Siana Timmons could barely walk.

A tragic car crash ripped her placenta just two days before son Aiden Lee was to be born.

She shared her story Tuesday with more than 100 other parents, grandparents, friends and family of children who died before their time at the ninth annual Walk to Remember, a ceremony and candlelight walk around Lake Ella.

"It was the worst thing a mother could face," said a tearful Timmons to the crowd. "I loved every kick and tumble, every movement that was made. This year I am going to be able to walk healthy and happy for my baby boy."

Hosted by Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition, the event at St. Paul's United Methodist Church honors National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on October 15.

Parents and grandparents not only share their stories and those of their children, but also the names of children are read aloud during the ceremony and parents can write messages to their child on a memory quilt.

"I remember thinking this is not normal, losing a baby is not normal and years later it allows me to know it's still OK to talk about her story, to say her name," said Sharia Brent, who lost her daughter Serena Grace to congenital diaphragmatic hernia, the absence of or having a hole in the diaphragm, in 2008.

Families in need of support after a child's death are urged to contact Compassionate Friends, a support group for anyone experiencing the death of a child regardless of age, at 422-8404 or tcftallahassee.com, or Big Bend Hospice Infant and Pregnancy Loss Support Group at 878-5310. Learn more at capitalareahealthystart.org or by calling 212-2055.