Eschwege remembers: Photographer and parents talk about star children

Eschwege remembers: Photographer and parents talk about star children

A moving event took place in Eschwege that dealt with the topic of “Memories” and was part of the series “At the End of Our Road”. André Schädig, a photographer and member of the “Dein Sternenkind” Foundation, was the keynote speaker and spoke about his special work with affected parents whose children died early. As the HNA reports, Schädig is one of over 700 photographers from the foundation who are active in German-speaking countries.

A central theme of the event was the question from Michael Nowotny from Caritas: “How can remembrance succeed when a child dies early?” Schädig talked about the emotional challenges he encounters during his assignments in clinics, often at night. "The photographs show love and memory, not death; they offer space for grief," he explained. This becomes particularly clear when you hear the reports from affected parents.

Emotional first-hand stories

Maria and Marc Heyne reported on their personal experience. Her son helps tend to his late sister's grave, and the photos Schädhaft took give him an idea of ​​her. Maria described the shocking experiences surrounding the birth and loss of her daughter Anne. “It was all so sudden,” she said. The photos taken during this difficult time not only served to help them cope with their grief, but also reminded them of the precious memories they have with their child.

André Schädig emphasized that he initially had doubts as to whether he was up to the task. But with each assignment he has learned to overcome these challenges and continue to volunteer for the foundation. It is interesting that all of the foundation's photographers work on a voluntary basis and there are no costs incurred by the parents concerned. 650 clinics in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol now support the foundation's valuable work.

Uninterrupted support for affected parents

The emergency number that has been set up is particularly helpful, where affected parents can receive support at any time. Another important point that was raised is the changed burial law for children and the community burial site for star children in Eschwege. These changes are a ray of hope for many affected families and help preserve lasting memories.

The event in Eschwege showed once again how important it is to talk about grief and offer support. With their commitment, André Schädig, the Heynes and the many others involved make an irreplaceable contribution to the culture of remembrance in our society and make it clear that love for a deceased child never ends.