OKEECHOBEE — October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in Okeechobee County.

“I was a father who lost a baby to a miscarriage. I know what that is like, said Commissioner Frank DeCarlo, who presented the proclamation to Andrea Medellin of Okeechobee Healthy Start at the Oct. 8 Okeechobee County Commission meeting. “It was many years ago, but I still think about it.”

Medellin said friends and family members often find it difficult to comfort those who have suffered a miscarriage or lost an infant.

“Whether it is 15 years, 5 months or 5 days, a loss is a loss,” she said. “People carry it with them.”

She said it’s important for Healthy Start to provide a safe space for grieving families.

The proclamation states: “The loss of a pregnancy or infant brings profound grief to parents, families, and loved ones throughout Okeechobee County and the State of Florida.

“Each child’s life matters, and families experiencing loss deserve compassion, dignity, and the opportunity to remember their children.

“Open and sensitive conversations can help reduce the isolation that often accompanies pregnancy and infant loss and encourage grieving families to seek support.

“Health care professionals, counselors, community organizations, family members, and friends provide care and comfort to those affected by such loss.

“October offers an opportunity to honor the children who are missed, recognize the families who love them, and strengthen our community’s support for those who grieve.”

A Pregnancy and Infant Loss Candlelight Vigil is planned for Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. in Centennial Park, 701 S.E. Sixth Avenue.