Grieving who I was before loss

For Mothers and Fathers, Parent Stories, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness

After my newborn son died, I grieved more than his passing. Of course, the grief I felt over losing Ethan was the loudest, the most painful, and demanded the most attention, but there were other losses I experienced in the wake of his death. I grieved the girl I was...

Finding (and accepting) support after loss

For Mothers and Fathers, Parent Stories, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness, Support Resources

It was difficult for me to ask for help after our newborn son died. The struggle partially stemmed from my pride and my desire to continue to be the friend who provided support to others, not the other way around. Even more so, I barely had the ability to articulate...

For better or for worse: Love after loss

For Mothers and Fathers, Parent Stories

For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. As I spoke those words back in 2011, I truly meant them from the bottom of my heart. Sure, I knew marriage wouldn’t always be easy and I knew there would be hard days, but this wide-eyed,...

Too late?

Parent Stories

I went to visit my son today. But I was too late. As I pulled into the cemetery, the tall gates stared at me. My son was 20 yards from me. And I couldn’t see him. All I wanted was to touch his grave, run my fingers over his etched name, remind him I loved him. That...

Two Years Without Owen

Parent Stories

Tomorrow will be two years since we said goodbye to Owen. Two years since we held onto him tightly as his soul left his body. I will never forget his adoring father and I whispering in his ear, “It’s okay to go. Mommy and Daddy will always love you. It’s okay to go.”...