Remembrance Garden dedication held

May 22—GREENSBURG — The Hospital Foundation of Decatur County, in partnership with the Luke O'Mara Foundation, recently hosted a dedication ceremony for the new Remembrance Garden on the Decatur County Memorial Hospital campus.

This tranquil space on the east side of the DCMH walking trail features stone wall seating, a dry creek bed, rocking chairs, and native plants.

The garden is designed to provide beauty and solace throughout the seasons and is dedicated to all the babies lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss in our community. The Remembrance Garden serves as an important addition to the existing DCMH walking trail, which is open to the community from sunrise to sunset year-round.

Eight years ago, Amy O'Mara, founder of the Luke O'Mara Foundation, received overwhelming information at 28 weeks pregnant. The O'Maras learned their son, Luke, had Trisomy 18 and would likely not survive birth. With odds against them getting to spend a lifetime with their son, they focused on the life Luke was already living inside Amy.

"Sometimes the overwhelmingness of it all would overtake me," Amy said. "I needed a quiet space, a place to go where I didn't have to be the strong mom to my two daughters, a place where I didn't have to be okay."

In the time following his death, O'Mara found herself seeking comfort, both alone and with friends and family, in quiet places surrounded by nature.

With an estimated one in four families being affected by the loss of a child, O'Mara recognized her community needed a physical space, such as the Remembrance Garden, intended to provide mental health support and healing for grieving families.

This garden not only honors the children who are no longer with us, but also offers a location that "will bring hope and healing to anyone in our community," according to O'Mara. "A place to bring together those in similar situations so they can lean on each other and not feel so alone in their grief."

Mandy Lohrum, Director of the Foundation, expressed gratitude for the generous community members who helped make this project possible.

"This garden will impact many lives and stands as a testament to our community's solidarity and commitment to supporting one another during life's most challenging moments," Lohrum said.

Grief is a lifelong journey. A peaceful spot in nature where families can gather, reflect, and find solace is a welcome resource.

"It doesn't matter if your loss was today, eight years ago, or 80. They are remembered and they are forever loved," O'Mara said.

The Hospital Foundation of Decatur County, in partnership with the Luke O'Mara Foundation, is honored to provide a space where all are welcome to visit to grieve, remember, and find peace and hope.

If you would like to donate to support the Remembrance Garden, contact the Hospital Foundation of Decatur County.

Donations can be made online at dcmh.net/foundation or through the Foundation office at 720 N. Lincoln Street, Greensburg, IN 47240. The Hospital Foundation of Decatur County may be reached at 812-663-1220.

The Hospital Foundation of Decatur County was founded in 1992 as a 501?3 organization to provide additional financial support for the healthcare initiatives of Decatur County Memorial Hospital.

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