One couple has stirred up random acts of kindness this December around Winnipeg in memory of their beloved daughter Grace.
Jen Hurrie is a clinical exercise physiologist at the University of Manitoba. She is also a mother to two sons.
In December 2015, Hurrie went into labour and everything seemed to be going well. However, by the time Hurrie and her husband Daryl got to the hospital, the doctors couldn't find a heartbeat.
"We were expecting a baby girl. We lost her and she ended up being stillborn. That is essentially where our story began," she says.
While the loss of their daughter has caused much pain and sorrow in the family, the couple decided to honour Grace's memory by hosting fundraisers each year on her birthday.
"The stories that you see now and the things we've done are a result of us learning how to carry that grief, and positive things we can put into the world in honour of our daughter Grace," says Hurrie.
Each year since her passing the couple have found different ways to give back.
"The first anniversary we created a cookbook that contained recipes from family. We sold that and used it as a fundraiser to generate funds that we donated back to the perinatal bereavement fund at St. Boniface Hospital."
That year the fund was able to purchase a cuddle cot with the donations, which is a device that allows grieving parents a bit more time with their little one after they pass.
In the following years, they had a paint night, sold travel mugs, and painted memory boxes for people who've experienced infant loss can take home with them after. Each event was a fundraiser in which the donations went to St. Boniface's bereavement fund.
"This year, on her fifth birthday, because of COVID and everyone's life turned upsidedown, we didn't feel it was the right time to try and fundraise. We wanted to put a little bit of love back into the world so we just put a call out to friends and family to do random acts of kindness," she says.
Hurrie shares that the response they received has been heartwarming.
"People have been super creative with their random acts of kindness. People were baking and leaving treats, some left doughnuts, and people were buying little meaningful gifts. We had a friend who made 12 taco dips and spread them around our community."
Hurrie created tags that people could attach to their kind gesture, with their life's motto, 'With Grit and Grace' on it.
Kevin, Hurrie's brother is an artist and he made the wings logo with Grace's name for the tags.
As his random act of kindness this December, he printed out sketches of the Winnipeg Jets players that he drew and then placed a few in an envelope with the tag throughout Kildonan Park.
Other people purchased things like coffee orders or the Winnipeg Red River Ex light show tickets for the vehicles behind them.
"One of the ways that you can parent the child that is no longer here is to spread some kindness to others and to let others know that they are not alone. It's okay to share your grief," says Hurrie.
Fri, Apr 26, 8:30 AM
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