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On Loss and Learning

June 5, 2016 By Kathy Radigan

On Loss and Learning

As a busy mom of three kids, 17, 14, and 11, I don’t spend much time thinking about the difficult road my husband and I had in becoming parents. As the song says, I haven’t got time for the pain. But in the past few weeks circumstances have occurred that have brought me back to that very difficult and painful time in my life.

Earlier in the week I received an email from a woman who had just experienced her third miscarriage. She came across an essay I had written about my own four losses and found hope in the fact that I went on to have three kids.

I both love and hate getting emails like this. I desperately want to reassure her that she will have the family she dreams of, but of course I can’t. I do believe we all can get our happy ending, but who can say what that is?

Then two days ago I was scrolling through Facebook, enjoying pictures of my friend’s new babies, little ones graduating preschool and older kids graduating high school and going to proms when I  came to an old high school friend’s status wishing her daughter a happy 19th birthday.

I stopped in my tracks and thought of the fact that my first baby would also be celebrating their 19th birthday around this same time if things had turned out the way I thought they would.

May 30, 1997, was my due date. I remember being so excited when I got the letter from my insurance carrier that informed me I was preregistered to have my baby on, before, or after that date. We saw a heartbeat. My jeans no longer really fit, making way for my belly that only Joe and I could see.

Then one day we went to the doctor and saw our baby but no heartbeat. All of a sudden it was over. My jeans fit again and I put the letter away in a box, along with a few cards people sent me to celebrate our good news.

A few weeks later my husband and I were doing some Christmas shopping in the mall. As we were waiting to pay for our purchases a woman pushing a newborn in a carriage walked by. I made a bit of a gasp and started to tear up. Joe put his arm around me and softly told me he loved me.

The woman in front of us gently smiled.

“I’m sorry. I just had a miscarriage a few weeks ago,” I managed to say, tears just falling from my eyes.

She replied, “It is so tough. I had a miscarriage about 20 years ago, and I still wonder what that child would have been like. And I have other children.”

The woman with the baby turned around. “I am so sorry. I can go to another line if you like. I had three miscarriages before this little one. I know how hard it is.”

With that the four of us started sharing about the pain of pregnancy loss while waiting to buy some Christmas presents.

It astounds me that after almost twenty years, while up to my neck in end of the school activities for my family, I find myself tearing up today as I think back to those women and that conversation.

They served as a lifeline for me that day. Unlike the other people in my life who thought they were helping me by telling me to move on, or saying that it was good I was “only” 10 weeks pregnant, or, it wasn’t as if I lost a “real” baby, these ladies understood because they had been there.

Friends and relatives would remind me how lucky I was to have a wonderful husband. They would tell me how great it was that I did get pregnant, because there were so many women who couldn’t. Yes the loss was sad, but it was God’s will. I would get over this. I would go on to have more babies. I would forget.

I’m so grateful for the women on that line that day. They let me know that it didn’t matter how many years would pass, and how many children may follow, my loss was real. My life would move on but I may never forget. And that was okay.

Once again I am reminded that there is so much power in sharing our stories, whether in print, online, or at a busy store. Through our own healing we can help others heal as well.

 

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Filed Under: Motherhood Tagged With: marriage, miscarriage, motherhood, pregnancy loss

Comments

  1. Janine Huldie says

    June 5, 2016 at 8:16 pm

    Couldn’t love this more and you are right there is so much more power in being able to speak openly about the common ground we all do share such as what you described above. So thank you so much for sharing with us always here, Kathy <3
    Janine Huldie recently posted…5 Must-Haves for A Dog’s Perfect Summer w/ DIY ToteMy Profile

    • Kathy Radigan says

      June 5, 2016 at 9:32 pm

      Thank you so much Janine! xoxoxo

  2. Lisa Weinsteini says

    June 5, 2016 at 8:29 pm

    Kathy this is a beautiful piece. I am so sorry for the pain you experienced. Sending hugs!

    • Kathy Radigan says

      June 5, 2016 at 9:32 pm

      Thanks so much sweet friend! xo

  3. Rena McDaniel says

    June 6, 2016 at 9:01 pm

    This was beautiful Kathy and so very sad. Unfortunately, today it is more the norm than it used to be. It’s heartbreaking. My best friend has been trying for so many years and it just breaks my heart to see her go through it again and again.

  4. Kristen says

    June 8, 2016 at 6:48 am

    Wow this is so beautiful and powerful. It’s amazing how many us us experience loss. I love when you look back and tell the stories of who you are and how you became a mom!
    Kristen recently posted…Savoring Stolen MomentsMy Profile

  5. Laurie Stone says

    June 8, 2016 at 3:09 pm

    Wow, that woman came at the right time. How kind of her to be there when you needed it and try and make you feel better. Lovely post.
    Laurie Stone recently posted…Summer of Pineapple and Tuna FishMy Profile

  6. sheila qualls says

    June 9, 2016 at 10:16 am

    This is a very touching piece, Kathy, and a great reminder as to why we should share our stories. You do an excellent job bringing us into your experience.
    sheila qualls recently posted…8 No-Miss Ways To Tank Your MarriageMy Profile

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Much thanks to Joseph Radigan, who besides being a great husband and father, also uses his talents to gently and ever so tactfully edit my blog. Joe is a business editor at Thomson Reuters in NY.
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