Wave of Light
Little Eden River’s light shines through the memorial candles her mother Jade makes and pours with such loving care. Wave of Light
Jade Jey from Riverstone started her candle making business following her daughter’s accidental death in 2014.
When she made the first candles for family members as a Christmas gift, the year Eden died, she had no idea that her gift of love would spread to embrace thousands of grieving families.
This year she will be giving away 1,000 memorial candles to families in the area to remember the loss of their little one on October 15th as part of the International Wave of Light.
“October is pregnancy and infant loss memorial month,” she said. “Every year, it’s my mission to give away some of our mini memorial candles to families who will be remembering the loss of their little one on October 15th.
“We too, will be remembering our own little girl, who died tragically at 15-months old, so this cause is very important to us.”
This year will be the family’s biggest following the establishment of The Eden River Foundation earlier this year, which has raised over $8,000 on its GoFundMe page to enable 1000 candles to be given free to grieving families.
Jade said it was a candle given to her as a neighbour the terrible day of Eden’s accident that later gave her the idea for the Eden River memorial candles.
Her daughter Addison was three -years old and Eden 15 months old when she picked them up from their grandmother’s house on February 4th, 2014 in the early afternoon and bought the ingredients to make the girl’s favourite sushi.
“We were going out that night, to a church leadership event so when we got home, I put them both down for a quick nap, gave them a kiss and then proceeded to make them their sushi.”
When Jade went to get the girl’s up about an hour later she found Eden unconscious, a blind cord which was normally on a hook was wrapped around her neck. “
I pulled her out and raced outside screaming for help while I began CPR with a neighbour’s help and another neighbor rang 000,” said Jade. “It took the paramedics- 22 mins to arrive with a CareFlight helicopter hovering above. And the news no parent should ever hear. Our baby girl was gone. It’s a pain that even still shatters me to the core.”
“Not long after, someone bought me a candle, especially to light for her and it was and still is really special to me. For Christmas that year I decided to create some candles in memory of Eden for my Family and so… Eden River Co began, with memorial candles always at the forefront of what we do and its there where The Eden River Foundation was birthed.”
“The creation of these candles are dedicated to our angel girl in heaven.”
Jade says the response she gets from families grieving their own child is very precious to her.
“They feel validated and their babies are honoured and remembered.”
Since Eden’s passing she and her husband David have had two more daughters and their girls, Addison (11), Ellery (7) Atlanta (5) know that the Eden River candles are to remember their sister.
As well as the mini memorial candles, Jade also sells scented candles online with all profits going to the Eden River Foundation to supply candles to grieving parents but also help her reach her next goal.. A retreat for mums who have lost a baby.
To find out more visit the website edenriverco.com or visit the Eden River Facebook page@edenriverco.
Message before 2nd October if a memorial candle is needed before the International Wave of Light on October 15th
