Haverhill-based clinical massage therapist whose young daughter died hopes her research study could help other bereaved parents

More than four years since the death of her daughter, a clinical massage therapist is conducting a research study that she hopes will help to ease the pain for other grieving parents.

Aleksandra Sukpe, who is in the final stages of gaining the highest qualification in the Jing method of advanced massage, is looking for parents who have lost a child to take part in a six-week study to learn how much the treatment could alleviate their pain and grief.

Her own daughter Maya was just five when she died of a cardiac arrest in November 2020, when they lived in Salisbury Court, Haverhill, with her then partner and their son Max, now 12. No medical explanation could ever be given for the arrest.

Participants in the study would have one week of hands-on massage at Aleksandra’s treatment room in Hollands Road, Haverhill, followed by one week of online support, a pattern that would be repeated until the six weeks were up.

Volunteers have to be over 18 and must not have been bereaved within the last six months. Only one parent, not both, could be treated.

Aleksandra, whose practice is called Body Harmony Massage Therapy, said: “When I lost my daughter I met some lovely people and they would be all feeling very sorry for you, but no-one can really understand you because no-one has lost a child.

“So I thought – because of what has happened and what I’m going through every day, because it’s not an incident that happened and you can get over it, it’s staying with you until the end of your life – I just thought, it would be great If I could provide a safe space for someone to bring their pain.”

Parents who take part do not have to speak about what happened to their child if they do not want to and the results of the study can be provided on request.

Aleksandra also described the impact of Maya’s death on her older brother Max.

She said: “There’s only 21 months between them. They were absolute besties. It completely took his security, his order of the world. Everything was absolutely ripped and taken away from him.

“When I was able to, I started to ask what else could I do to help.”

Aleksandra hopes that one day, her research might be picked up by someone with greater resources and used to help more grieving parents.

To take part in the study, contact Aleksandra at bodyharmony.online or on 07733433539.