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Mila’s story
April 30, 2026
As Mother’s Day approaches, messages celebrating motherhood begin to fill screens, shops and inboxes.
For many, this time of year brings joy and connection. For others, it can carry a different kind of weight that is layered with grief, remembrance and longing.
This is the experience of families like Mila’s.
Mila was born with a rare neonatal condition that meant her life would be heartbreakingly short. Sadly, she died on the day she was born.
After Mila’s death, her parents, Ashley and Gene, stayed at Very Special Kids House. Surrounded by care and support, they were able to spend precious time with their baby and found the comfort they needed to begin to grieve. Ashley shares,
Having a private space for our family at Very Special Kids meant everything during the most heartbreaking time of our lives.
It gave us the dignity to grieve together, in our own time and in our own way, while being close to our baby.
That space allowed Ashley and her family to slow down, to stay present with Mila, and to choose how and when to share those moments with others.
“We welcomed friends and family when it felt right for us, so they could meet Mila in a calm, light‑filled space that felt safe and peaceful.
It truly became a beautiful oasis. Somewhere we could stay close to Mila, hold her, talk to her, and spend those precious final moments together without feeling rushed or watched.”
Support for the entire family
During this precious time, Mila’s family created meaningful keepsakes through memory‑making activities, including a handprint painting, to honour her life.
Ashley’s older children, Charlotte and Ezra, were also supported during this time, with dedicated spaces and care designed to help them feel safe, comforted and supported.
“Charlotte and Ezra absolutely loved their time at Very Special Kids House.
They connected with the caring staff and enjoyed spending time with the other children. The freedom to move between the different spaces gave them a sense of comfort and control, which was so important during such an uncertain time.
They especially loved the soft play area and the music room. Places where they could just be kids.“
As parents, having our family support practitioner Justine there to support Charlotte and Ezra was incredibly reassuring. She helped them begin to understand and process their emotions, which in turn gave us the space and time to process our own grief.
When it came time to leave Very Special Kids House, Mila’s life was honoured in a way that has stayed deeply with her family.
“The Guard of Honour was an incredibly meaningful and powerful way to say goodbye to Mila. Seeing so many staff members standing silently, taking part in the farewell, was a moment that will stay with us forever.”
What continues to resonate most for Ashley is the respect and care shown to Mila throughout her short life, and beyond.
“It was incredibly meaningful to have the nurses check on her, both during the day and throughout the night. They spoke to her gently, treated her with such respect, and honoured her presence in a way I will never forget.
It made me feel like her life, and even her body after she passed, mattered to them too, not just to me.”
Very Special Kids offers families a range of holistic services, including after death care, at no cost. These supports exist to ensure families are surrounded by dignity, compassion and understanding at the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
As Mother’s Day approaches, it is important that our wider community stay mindful of the many ways this time can be experienced. Bereaved Mother’s Day, held on the first Sunday of May, honours mothers whose children have died and recognises that motherhood, care and love continue long after goodbye.
