A Bereaved Mom is a Real Mom

By: Paige Sanderson Breakfast in bed, a card signed “Love, Mike and Holden,” and a picture of flowers created by Holden’s perfect little handprints. That’s what I was hoping my first Mother’s Day would be like. After all, it’s what I’ve been waiting for my whole life. A mom’s first Mother’s Day is supposed to…

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Grieving Now and Grieving Then

By: Brooke Taylor Duckworth I studied Victorian literature in graduate school, and alongside the novels I read, I learned a great deal about culture in Victorian England. Nineteenth-century Britain was fascinating to me—particularly in all of its contrast with our contemporary society. The strictly gendered spheres for men and women, the uncomfortable clothing, the formal…

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We Are Worthy To Grieve: TFMR

By: Charlie’s Mom I ALWAYS dreamed of being a mom, and then it happened.  My beautiful baby girl Charlie, a dream come true.  This is how I begin my story, when I chose to tell it.  I don’t divulge my “secret” easily to just anyone.  Usually the only people I feel a little comfortable telling…

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Meeting Annie

By: Robert and Kelly Henke A couple weeks before our 20-week ultrasound, I had a gut instinct that something wasn’t quite right. I couldn’t place it, but I knew something was wrong. My husband, Robert, and our 20-month-old daughter were both at the ultrasound. Never did I expect to hear the word “Anencephaly.” It was…

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The Date That Changes Everything

By: Kadie Tannehill I never knew how much one, single date in time could change the course of entire lifetime. May 16th, 2015 is that date for me, and something I naively thought I would never experience—it’s the day that we said hello and goodbye to our son, Jonah, in the same breath. You see,…

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I 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,…

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Finding Hope and Strength When Your Children are Grieving

By: Kayla Leibner I love my children more than my own life.  All of them.  I want what’s best for them.  My husband, Ben, and I have four children – Jace, Kiley, Melody, and Jamie.  We sound like a typical large family, right?  Well, things aren’t always as they seem.  There are things about our…

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