Miscarriage: Zoe Marshall, Rachael Casella on grief after child loss

It’s been three years since Rachael Casella lost her seven-month-old daughter Mackenzie and a year since Zoe Marshall lost her child in miscarriage.

It’s been three years since Rachael Casella and her husband Jonny lost their seven-month-old daughter Mackenzie to a rare genetic condition.

The grief is still raw but Mackenzie’s parents believe her mission was to help break the stigma surrounding child loss.

Zoe Marshall (left) and Rachael Casella are raising awareness for parents who have lost children before and after birth. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Along with the loss of Mackenzie, Miss Casella has also experienced a miscarriage and two pregnancies.

Those two pregnancies, a daughter called Bella and a son called Leo, were both found to be affected by life limiting conditions, forcing the couple to terminate for medical reasons.

As a mother with no living children in her arms, Rachael understands the depth of pain like few others.

Miss Casella and radio host Zoe Marshall are organising a luncheon and pamper day this Sunday, December 6, for parents who have lost their children, recognising their grief and showing them their pain is seen.

Rachael and Jonny Casella with daughter Mackenzie, who passed away at seven-months-old due to a rare genetic condition. Picture: Supplied

The luncheon is part of Ms Casella’s determined fight for society to remove the stigma surrounding child loss and start conversations which show parents they are not alone.

“I really want this event to remind people that it’s a very sad fact that child loss happens every single day, whether it’s miscarriage, stillbirth, accidents or illness,” Ms Casella said.

“Child loss happens every day but society just doesn’t want to acknowledge it. It’s too sad, they want to put it in the ‘too hard basket’.”

Jonny, Rachael and Mackenzie.

Mackenzie.

“There’s some really simple and easy things you can do to support someone going through it but being silent is the worst thing you can do.”

“Some of my best days are when someone says, ‘what was Mackenzie’s favourite food?’ just allowing me to talk about my daughter.”

Marshall will host the event alongside Miss Casella and is hoping to lead the way in starting conversations about child loss and grief, after a devastating miscarriage in November last year.

“I don’t know why but as a society we don’t have a lot of customs or rituals that honour grief and children that have passed away,” Ms Marshall said.

Rachael is currently pregnant again.

Rachael and Jonny have lost four children.

“We don’t know what to do, we don’t have anyone teaching us or leading the conversations.”

“It’s so important to ask questions and acknowledge the child that passed, to voice it, to talk about them, to ask questions instead of becoming mute and not want to upset somebody, it’s a dated idea and we need to do better.”