Katarina Butigan and her partner Anthony Cook were devastated by the death of their daughter during childbirth on August 4, 2014.
“It wasn’t supposed to be a complicated birth but all of a sudden I was rushed in for a c-section … and our daughter passed away during my c-section,” Ms Butigan said.
Their daughter’s death at Bacchus Marsh Hospital is one of 12 baby deaths between 2013-14 that may have been avoided, according to a government investigation last year.
“We went through this entire rollercoaster of grief period and we started to see the light at the end of the tunnel and then we get the news that brings back all those feelings again,” Ms Butigan said.
As part of the grieving process, Ms Butigan and her partner wanted to reach out to others going through the same emotions.
They have formed the Green Butterfly support group for those parents who were affected by the Bacchus Marsh Hospital tragedy. The group will meet for the first time on July 17.
“My partner and I found that it really helped to talk to other parents who understood what we were going through because they too had lost a child.
“It’s that feeling of not being alone.
“This is not a group counselling session run by a medical professional.
“We strongly believe in a local support group, run by local parents advocating not against the wrongs that were committed, but ways we can move past them.”
The support group meeting will be at Melton Country Club from 1-3pm.
For information visit thegreenbutterflysite.wordpress.com or email thegreenbutterflyfoundation@gmail.com
