October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss is not just something that happens to ’somebody else’. It happens to your sister, your friend, your coworker, the girl who checks out your groceries. It affects many families every day. By spreading awareness of Pregnancy and Infant Loss we are able to let family and friends know how to support a family that has experienced a loss.
Pregnancy and infant loss is often called the "Hidden Loss" or the "Unspeakable Loss" because of society’s reluctance to recognize these losses and the grief that is associated with such a loss as "real". Unfortunately some will experience the pain of losing a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth. This loss is very real. We do miss and grieve for our lost babies. We want our babies lives to be recognized and their death to afforded the same dignity as that of any other person.
Why have an Awareness Month?
Because life, even the tiniest life, is special
Because life, even the tiniest life, must be remembered
Because parents want to remember
Because grieving parents need sensitive doctors, nurses, clergy, funeral directors and families
Because the larger community needs to be reminded that pregnancy and infant losses occur often
Because the larger community needs to know how to help grieving families
Because the larger community needs to be reminded that life, even the tiniest life, is special
"An Ugly Pair of Shoes"
I am wearing a pair of shoes.
They are ugly shoes.
Uncomfortable Shoes.
I hate my shoes.
Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.
Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step.Yet, I continue to wear them.
I get funny looks wearing these shoes.They are looks of sympathy.
I can tell in others eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not theirs.
They never talk about my shoes.To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.
To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them.But, once you put them on, you can never take them off.
I now realize that I am not the other one who wears these shoes.
There are many pairs in the world.
Some women are like me and ache daily as they try and walk in them.
Some have learned how to walk in them so they don’t hurt quite as much.
Some have work the shoes so long that days will go by
before they think of how much they hurt.No woman deserves to wear these shoes.
Yet, because of the shoes I am a stronger women.These shoes have given me the strength to face anything.
They have made me who I am.I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has lost a child.
Author Unknown