This is a place for sharing. This is a place for families. This is a place inspired by a mother's love.
Before she was born, I knew our daughter would be Dorothy. From the very first time that her name graced my lips, I knew it would be the name that I wanted to speak forever. In high school, I used to doodle my name with the surname of my celebrity crush so I could look…
Continue reading ➞ My Child Has Died, But Their Name Lives On
I had been in the hospital for a week after being diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and after an initial scare, it had been a rather uneventful stay. They were ready to send me home and have me visit the hospital daily for monitoring. I was on board with the plan. I felt fine and Dorothy…
Continue reading ➞ Dorothy’s Birth Story–A Story Of Preeclampsia, Stillbirth, And A Mother’s Love
After our daughter, Dorothy, was stillborn we wasted no time in finding a therapist. To be completely honest, it was fear that drove me to make the initial call. I was terrified of what would happen to myself, my husband, and our marriage if we did not seek help. I knew we did not have…
Continue reading ➞ After The Death Of Our Baby, Attending Couples Therapy Helped Our Marriage Thrive
"I can't imagine what you're going through." If your baby has died, you have heard this phrase. I'll guess you've heard it more than once. Maybe it was written in a sympathy card that you could barely bring yourself to open in those first days of grief. It's what so many choose to say when…
Continue reading ➞ We Can Imagine What It’s Like When A Baby Dies–We Just Don’t Want To
Oh, Abby. I saw your column today--the one where you gave advice to Crystal in Nevada. She wrote to you asking how to cope with her aunt who had a stillbirth 20 years ago. Crystal wanted to know how to talk to this aunt who lives such a “morbid lifestyle.” To encourage her to move…
Continue reading ➞ Dear Abby: Your Advice About Grief Is Not Helpful And It Hurts
My baby sleeps on my nightstand--maybe yours does too. Maybe you know what it's like to open your eyes each morning and rest your gaze on that tiny urn containing your child's ashes. Or maybe your child spends their nights on a special shelf, on a table in your living room, or next to a…
Continue reading ➞ A Grieving Parent Knows The Ultimate Heartache
I sat there, cradling my stillborn daughter in my arms when they asked if I wanted photos. I looked at them horrified--why would I want a photo of me holding my dead child? So, I said no. My medical situation was urgent and I was running out of time to hold my baby. Even though…
Continue reading ➞ I Didn’t Think I Wanted Photos Of My Stillborn Baby And I Was Wrong
My daughter, Dorothy, was stillborn on February 22, 2016 due to complications from preeclampsia. I have written a lot about her death and the life I’ve lived after, but I have written little about the events and moments leading up to her death. This series is dedicated to remembering my last week with her before…