Memory making
Memories can reaffirm that loved ones will go on living in our hearts and minds, and that they will always be an important part of who we are. It helps in the grief process as it helps the individual to retain the memories and connections in place.
Memories are made naturally throughout life and are created from attending special occasions, outings and sometimes simply through daily, spontaneous funny or moving moments.
- time spent with family and friends
- sibling/family activities such as cooking together, games
- holidays
- day trips and outings such as having a picnic or going to the zoo
Creating tangible memorabilia can help express our meaningful life experiences, process feelings and communicate love for each other.
Siblings often find difficulty expressing their grief and helping them make their own memories can bring comfort.
Memory keeping can be done to suit personal, cultural or religious beliefs and traditions.
Memory keeping examples
- Ink/paint/plaster hand and footprints
- Photographs and video footage (for example Heartfelt Photography)
- Lock of hair
- Comfort objects- blanket, cuddly toy
- Special items of clothes
- Jewellery
- Scrapbooking photos or craft
- Memory Box to store some of these special items listed above
- Planting a tree or creating a garden
- Journaling lists of favourite sayings, toys, foods etc
- Bravery beads
- Other memory making ideas that are individualised with music, art and play (e.g. writing and recording a song together)
'A little piece of me'
A Little Piece of Me invites families to create a photographic pixel portrait, a technique that uses small images to create one single large portrait image chosen by the family.
With the team’s guidance, families gather photos of people, places and things that have helped shape their child’s life. Once collected, the photos are arranged to create a portrait of their child.
The process provides families with an opportunity to reflect on their child’s journey, and what is important to them.
The artwork captures the wonderful lives of children and adolescents outside of their illness and offers the families a long lasting memory they can keep, but most importantly, tells their child’s unique story.
Each year, families are asked if they would like their child’s portrait to be displayed in an annual exhibition that is held at each of the hospitals and Bear Cottage.
Contact
Timothy Talty, Art program manager, Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation
Email: Timothy.Talty@schf.org.au
A Little Piece of Me is a collaborative arts project between artist Andrew Christie, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation Art Program, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Palliative Care teams and John Hunter Children’s Hospital Palliative Care team.
To enable this popular and meaningful project to be offered to families in the future, we welcome donations and funding support.