Infant Loss
Sailing
By: Ann-Marie Ferry Twenty-five feet of crystal-clear water rolled between the pier where I stood and the smooth, colorful boulders on the lake floor. I was enchanted by this simmering window into aquatic life, mesmerized, in my own world. “Ann-Marie, the line is moving,” a voice called out. My parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents,…
Read MoreListening To the Voices of Bereaved Fathers
By: Ann-Marie Ferry Fathers often get the short end of the stick when it comes to grief support. It should not be. However, for a variety of reasons it often remains the case. When I was asked to write an article for newly bereaved fathers, I was apprehensive. I am a bereaved mother. How do…
Read MoreBack to Normal
By: Ann-Marie Ferry When normal seems on its way And tears have now ceased When all the thoughts in my head Have settled in a calm place The flood gates open Destroying my glimpse of peace When my mosaic heart is crumbling And I can’t take a breath When tears start in my throat Burning…
Read MoreMothering Each Day
By: Robyn Busekrus The birds are singing and the sun is shining. When I turn the calendar to May, it brings sadness. I say to myself, “Here we go again.” This month, we honor mothers and for those of us who have been on this loss journey it is difficult. This May, my son would…
Read MoreGrief Counseling: a Guide on Your Healing Journey
By: Kelly Karavousanos Carrie entered counseling after she had experienced the stillbirth of her daughter, Kaylee. Carrie was married and had three other children under the ages of 8. Carrie said she wanted help and felt she had nowhere else to turn; it had been 8 months since Kaylee’s death, and she felt everyone was…
Read MoreA Fresh Wave of Grief
By: Robyn Busekrus There is no easy way to deal with triggers. They will always be with us. Sometimes when a song comes on the radio the emotions come strongly. We each have our own way of facing our triggers and every person’s way of dealing with their emotions is okay. I know when I…
Read MoreI am Colette’s Mom
By: Michelle Valiukenas I am the proud mom of Colette Louise, my little fireball, gorgeous blonde with my nose, long legs, long fingers, and a spirit that just radiated love and peace. Colette was born at 24 weeks and 5 days, three weeks after I was hospitalized with preeclampsia. She fought valiantly for nine days,…
Read MoreWe Are Missing It All
By: Sabrina Ivy We are missing it all. And tonight it hurts like hell. Baby loss isn’t something that just happened at one tragic day in our lives years ago. It is something that we carry with us as we endure each and every day and special occasion that comes and goes without our daughter…
Read MoreThe Beginning of Grief
By: Elaine de Leon When you say it out loud, it sounds unreal: I have been pregnant twice. I have never felt a contraction. I have never taken a baby home from the hospital. We lost our two babies – Francis and Zoe – 11 months apart. I was only 16 weeks pregnant with Francis…
Read MoreHelping My Sons Grieve
By: Robyn Busekrus I wish loss wasn’t a part of our journey. When we found out we were expecting, we had this vision of what our family would look like. It had been some years since having our boys, and we always had wanted another child. One of the hardest parts of this journey is…
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