Update on October 8th – National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month

One of the biggest disappointments for me with the delayed move was that we were unable to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival in any way. I had planned to pick up mooncakes or order them, hang lanterns, reminisce a bit under the beautiful full moon with E. But moving in that way made it too hard and hectic.

It’s ironic, that in our mailbox that day was the following from GBMC:

“On Sunday, October 15, 2006, Greater Baltimore Medical Center will be hosting a Day of Remembrance in honor of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. We invite you to remember and honor the previous babies whose memories have touched the hearts of their parents and families.”

The letter goes on to mention further details such as being able to provide your child’s name to be read aloud, to be placed on a memorial item… As I’ve mentioned before, we were fortunate to have given birth to our daughter Sophia Madeleine in such an incredible hospital. I just wish others had been there to share in that time with us. As horrible as it was, the staff at GMBC should be commended for their incredible patience, kindness, love, thoughtfulness and generosity. We were in, delivered her and left, in under 24 hours, but every hour they showered us with kindness, they met our every need, they went the extra mile when we insisted they didn’t need to worry about it. Every thought every wish, they usually met it before we had to ask.

At times like this I miss the Chesapeake Bay area more than anyone could imagine. It will forever be the place our daughter Sophia was born, it will be her first and her only home and it breaks my heart to realize not only did we leave her behind at the hospital that day, forever leaving me with the idea that I abandoned our child, but now we’ve left behind her home, her nursery and yet another few tangible memories that tell the world our daughter was real, our love for her was true and what she means to us is no different than a child who is 3, 10, 30 or 50.

The length of ones life does not set the value of it. Sophia taught E and I more in her short life than most people around us have taught us before or since. We wish we could honor her at GBMC this weekend, I feel such a sense of loss for not being there.

If you know someone who’s lost an infant or pregnancy, take a few minutes to let them know that you care, that you love them and that their child mattered and had value. Let them know you understand the significance of this month of honor.