But she treasures every moment of the five-and-a-half months she had with her baby.

“The day before he died I had a feeling something was going to happen so Xavier, my daughter and I spent the whole day in the sun,” Ms Morel said.

“When he died, he was with us and it was almost like he felt no pain.

“I just think we were lucky to have had that time with him.”

Since then, Ms Morel has also lost a baby girl at 16 weeks gestation, who also had the same genetic disease.

However, she sees Monday’s annual Celebration of Remembrance as a chance for everyone to celebrate their babies’ lives.

“It’s a chance for people to be free to remember and celebrate their children. It’s a chance to know that you’re not alone.

“We’ve all lost a child, and every circumstance is different, but we are united by grief.”

The annual ceremony, held at the Ballaarat New Cemetery’s children’s section at the corner of Lydiard and Norman streets, is organised by the Ballarat Bereavement Support Network.

Spokeswoman Liz Dawson said the death of a child brought grief which lasted forever, no matter the child’s age or cause of death.

“The service is an opportunity for people to come together and to reflect in their own way on children who have died at any age, and for any reason, thus continuing the focus on the ongoing relationship with that person,” Ms Dawson said.

Ms Dawson also recently received a $1500 gift from the Fuelers Car Club, raised at their third Masters Motor Show via gate takings and raffles.

Fuelers Car Club treasurer Darren Gladstone said the club planned to give money raised from each show to organisations including Hospice and the Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital paediatric and adolescent ward.

The ceremony begins at 6pm, with gates open at 5.30pm. Balloons are provided for messages to be written on and released.

fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au

What: Celebration of Remembrance

When: Monday, December 15, at 6pm

Where: Ballaarat New Cemetery children’s section, corner of Norman and Lydiard streets