My Angel on a Tree

I'm learning so much through this trial. I attended a Share Parent meeting at Logan Regional Hospital last night. I had no idea a support group even existed until my friend told me about it. At the beginning you go around and share who you are and about your children on both sides of the veil. You can share as much or as little as you want. It was eye opening to see how many miscarriages women have had. Some had lost up to 4 children due to miscarriages. My heart goes out to them. We got to color an angel for each of our losses and hang it on the angel tree that sits in the lobby of the Women's Center. My heart sunk as I saw a line to write a name and a death date. I don't like the word death. It also reminded me that I still haven't chosen a name for my little one yet. It has been on my mind. My little angel is near the top and looking out the window.  

Share Parents is a group who help women at the hospital who have just given birth to a baby who has previously passed on. They are the ones who come in and take photos of your baby and make little molds of their hands and feet. They often give you a little blanket for your little one. They have been through their own losses and can relate. These are priceless gifts that each mother is given. My friends who have gone through this at the hospital truly cherish these priceless gifts of the molds and photographs. Share Parents has many resources on their website. This website is specific to Utah.

I also found out that there is an option if your baby dies before 20 weeks to have the baby cremated and the ashes placed in a vault in Baby Land in the Logan Cemetery. I had a few friends recently tell me about this. I had no idea that existed. A few women chose to buy burial plots. You can also have your baby buried at the bottom of your burial plot, so you would share the same plot with your baby.

A friend and I were texting the other day and she wrote "A loss is a loss." So often we compare, but she is right, a loss is a loss. May we always be kind to others and love them unconditionally as they navigate this life. We were not sent here to judge one another, but to lift, encourage, and strengthen one another.