Dawns Butterfly Foundation
Candice's Story and How Dawns Butterfly Foundation Began
On the 12th of May 2014, a remarkable journey began—a journey that would give solace to grieving families and spread awareness about the pain of losing a child. It all started with me, a mother who experienced a heartbreaking loss that would forever change my life.
I went into early labor with my daughter, Dawn, when she was only 24 weeks and 2 days old. Dawn's arrival was far too soon, and the doctors delivered the devastating news that her chances of survival were slim. I made the agonizing decision to turn off her life-support machines after just nine precious hours.
Overwhelmed with grief and longing for something tangible to hold onto, I sought solace in the form of photographs. I reached out to an organization called Heartfelt Australia, which specialized in capturing beautiful images of children who had left this world too soon. With their help, I created a lasting memory of my beloved Dawn—bathing her, hugging and kissing her, and telling her story through heartfelt photographs.
Motivated by the power of those images and the comfort they brought, I made a decision. In January 2015, I founded Dawn's Butterfly Foundation, an organization dedicated to honoring the memories of babies lost too soon. The foundation's primary focus was to create memory boxes for families who had experienced the devastating loss of a child from approximately 15 weeks of gestation to newborns.
At first, the memory boxes were modest, but with each passing year, they grew in size and love. My friends, family, and even families who had received the boxes contributed to their contents, ensuring that each box was filled with meaningful items. These precious mementos became a source of comfort, a tangible reminder of the little lives that were gone too soon.
As the foundation continued to flourish, I realized that I wanted to offer even more to these grieving families. I dreamed of expanding the boxes to include elements of hope, happiness, and love. With that vision in mind, I decided to start a business alongside the foundation, creating merchandise that could be sold to fund the growth and improvement of the memory boxes.
This new venture allowed the community to play an active role in supporting Dawn's Butterfly Foundation. Each purchase made contributed not only to the creation of more merchandise but also directly enhanced the memory boxes, ensuring they remained filled with meaningful and comforting items for grieving families. The foundation found its voice on social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, where it garnered support and spread awareness about the pain of losing a child.
Spreading Comfort and Hope: The Legacy of Dawn's Butterfly Foundation
My passion and dedication did not stop there. I also joined forces with the Broken Heart Foundation, an organization focused on creating memory boxes for families who had lost children between the ages of 3 and 10. Together, we worked to raise awareness about heart conditions and the profound impact they can have on young lives.
Through Dawn's Butterfly Foundation, I aimed not only to provide comfort to grieving families but also to raise awareness about the often-silenced pain of losing a child. The foundation's mission was to ensure that these little ones who left this world too soon would never be forgotten, and their memories would forever be cherished.
As the years went by, Dawn's Butterfly Foundation continued to grow and touch the lives of countless families. With each merchandise sale, every heartfelt donation, and the unwavering support of the community, the memory boxes expanded, bringing solace, hope, and a reminder that these precious lives, though short-lived, were filled with immeasurable love.
The legacy of Dawn's Butterfly Foundation spread far and wide, leaving a trail of comfort, compassion, and understanding in its wake. My strength and dedication became a beacon of hope for grieving families, reminding them that they were not alone in their sorrow.