Name: Frankie Brunker

Organisation: These Precious Little People

Award Category: Author/blogger (international)

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My Plea:

I am the proud mother of three precious little people, and I write in honour of all precious little people gone too soon. My first child, Esme, died due to unexplained stillbirth in September 2013. It wasn’t just my husband and I who were left grief-stricken by her death. Esme is our daughter but she is also a granddaughter to our parents and a niece to our siblings. Furthermore, she is a cousin to our nephews, niece, cousins and their children, and a sister to the siblings who came along after her. I found having to explain her death to the young children within my family was made tougher by there being no children’s book available that could describe who she was to us and what had happened to her in simple, age appropriate language. I was looking for something honest but gentle, with beautifully vibrant yet moving artwork to accompany the text.

I wanted a book that helps people speak to other children within the family about their ‘missing piece’ with love and pride– whatever the circumstances of the baby’s death, and however long ago it had occurred. I was also seeking more guidance as to how we could retain Esme’s place in the family in positive and special ways. After my search continued to prove disappointing I was inspired to write and self-publish These Precious Little People, a book that aims to speak a family’s truth to all age levels and offer support and comfort to any child affected by the death of a baby.

It was important to me that it was a not-for-profit venture, so I sought out the talent and vision of artist and social entrepreneur Gillian Gamble to create the stunning illustrations, who very kindly accepted a much-reduced fee for her work. I was lucky to find others who believed in the project right from the start too. Alongside families who pledged money to help pay for publication costs ahead of the book going to print, Joel The Complete Package have been instrumental in helping it happen, so all proceeds from the book have so far been returned to this charity.

Through the continued support of Joel The Complete Package, as well as other small charities and individuals, I have been able to donate dozens of copies to hospitals and families so that it has been available to them at the point at which it is often most useful. It can be especially hard to find the words to break the news of a baby’s death to children at a time when most adults are reeling from the shock and devastation themselves. It has always been an aspiration of mine to make copies available to loan out to families from bereavement suites, support groups and children’s hospices nationwide, and this is something that I am continuing to work hard to do.

Even years later it can be impossible for people to figure out the best way to help children bear witness to grief felt by family members or indeed to cope with their own emotions following the death of a little one. The scarcity of advice available for those of us parenting after loss can make what is already a challenging experience even harder. I started writing a blog to accompany the book for families like mine who are trying to maintain a positive connection to their precious little people gone too soon. I wish to honour the heartache that is felt by family members, and offer guidance to those supporting children as they develop their understanding of the death of a baby. I aim to make others feel less alone in finding certain conversations or milestones tricky or even overwhelming, and to offer hope that while there is no single ‘right’ way to navigate these difficulties; there are others that have walked this path before us who can provide wisdom and reassurance.

It has been so heartening to see all the encouraging feedback from the book and blog so far. It’s incredible that my writing has been making a difference to thousands of people, and that adults and children alike value These Precious Little People. To know that it sits on the bookshelves of hundreds of families who can read it together and remember all of our precious little people with a smile means everything.

What Others Have Said

Frankie lovingly created the most stunning children’s book ‘These Precious Little People’ which helps to explain the death of a baby to children. My rainbows absolutely love it! It is powerful, empowering and just beautiful. Not only did Frankie create this special book, she also donates the proceeds to charity. A truly remarkable lady.

https://youtu.be/n3d6UbJBC0A