Finding Peace During a Time of Sorrow
In January 2003, parents Grace and John Lobono were told during an amniocentesis that their unborn baby girl had a fatal condition. To cope with this news, the family needed strength beyond their spiritual faith. They were about to take one of the most difficult journeys they would ever face.
Following a doctor's recommendation, the Lobonos turned to the StarShine Hospice at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. With the help of StarShine and its Perinatal Program, they were able to accept the inevitable. Hope Mary Anthony Lobono died March 18, 2003, a few hours after birth.
The StarShine Hospice Perinatal Program was created in April 2000 to help support expectant parents and siblings, and to help with the needs of the infant. Due to the rise in prenatal diagnoses of life-threatening fetal conditions, StarShine developed this program to fill a void for parents facing the birth of a child with a terminal condition.
"They came to us like angels," Grace says. "We could not have gone through this without them."
The staff at StarShine gave the Lobono family the comfort and support they needed to cope with the death of their daughter. Grace emphasizes the importance of finding support to help with mourning. "Having people understand what you're going through really helps with the grief process," she says.
The StarShine staff counseled Hope's parents and her older
sisters Katherine and Angie, as well as extended family members. With StarShine's support, the Lobonos were able to grieve and to accept Hope's death. They have even come to see it in a positive light. "There are some wonderful things that have come out of a bad thing," Grace says. StarShine not only provided the Lobonos emotional support, but also offered help with birthing and grieving plans. And they personally took Hope to the funeral home and stood by the family during the months following the funeral. To this day, StarShine continues to bring solace to the family during holidays and on special occasions.
"They're there for a reason and they really do make a difference," Grace says. "It's amazing how God puts people in your life."
