I received a message the other day after my post on the miscarriage. It’s messages like this particular one that gut me as I put myself in somebody else’s shoes as I’m sure my story of loss and love guts other people when they put themselves in a similar position. I asked if she would mind if I shared her story and she agreed. Her story is one of many that makes me realize that we’re all in this messy thing called life together. We are here to encourage one another, love one another, cry together, rejoice with each other, and lift one another up in prayer. I ask as you read her story that you just pray, pray for her, pray for someone you know personally who is going through heartache, pray for the children around the world who are starving tonight, simply say a prayer for someone who has it way worse than you or I do because there is someone out there, someone whose journey bleeds heartache and pain; someone who has not seen the light of day for a very long time. Sincerely pray for that person.
I’ve known Kristin for a few years now. She entered my life a year or two before my late husband Jason passed away. I don’t think she ever really knew him as a healthy person, but I could have those details off, not always remembering that period of life with a lot of clarity. I remember she brought our family a meal one evening that we devoured, and I still make her recipe to this day. She has been through her own heartache this side of eternity, but she has also been through an incredible amount of blessing. She was divorced as a young woman, divorced from a very bad situation. She remarried a young man who brought his own pain from a previous life, divorced against his will from a painful situation. They found true happiness with one another, pursued their dream of living out in the middle of nowhere, had a child together and that was that. I’ve mentioned to her, at least one time that I can remember, that it might be “time for another one” especially as her child has grown, never in my wildest imaginations having any idea how much pain those words probably brought to her in those moments. Here is her story.
Jessica, I haven’t said anything on Facebook (at least not on my wall) about what we’ve gone through the last couple years but my heart breaks with you and for you. I have had six, yes 6, miscarriages since May/June 2012. The surgery I had shortly before we moved up here Fall/Winter of 2012 was supposed to “fix” the problem. We waited about a year before really trying again. I’ve had three more since then. There are no words that I’ve found that convey the feelings and emotions that follow a loss like that. Most of the time I’m thankful that I usually seem to lose mine early on, most of the time I’m the only one that even knows yet that there is a new life forming inside of me. Most have started different pregnancy signals (moody, tired, cravings, smelling EVERYTHING…), each of them have been somewhat different though, as I would think it would be with each child that would have been born. It’s hard, it sucks, it hurts when it’s done, over, finished, and final. My life keeps going though. Our daughter still needs me. Wes still needs me. I still need God. Most days no one would ever guess that I have days that I can barely function because of the overwhelming grief that wells up and rears its ugly head. Those days I try to stay quiet between the tears, knowing full well God loves me so much and His heart is broken with me. He got to watch His Son grow up knowing what was coming and knowing what would be best for us, the rest of His children, and He let His Son die. Not only die but go to Hell, thankfully my little ones don’t have to endure that too because Jesus already did. The first one and the last one have been the hardest so far. The first one, because it was the first and a friend of mine was pregnant at the same time, her daughter just turned two. The last one, because my sister in law and I were due one day apart. I was due on Emma’s birthday in May and Lisa is due the day before. Christmas was hard. I love her so much and am extremely happy for her and her husband, they have waited so long for this little baby, a boy. We were planning to make the announcement at Wes’s birthday dinner, I lost it two days before that. Lisa made their announcement. I had to bounce back like lightning and be excited for her. I said “I know why I lost this one, it was so you could have the lime light you deserve during your first pregnancy.” And I meant it with everything in me. I have Emma already, we had the special firsts, the attention, the gifts, the constant “How are you feeling today?” questions; she deserves that too. Watching her tummy grow plucks my heartstrings, I get waves of jealousy that fade as quickly as they come on. I long to have a do-over pregnancy; which seems silly when I type it. My pregnancy with Emma had complications and breastfeeding didn’t work for me, my chest just didn’t follow through with its obligations and I was completely dry by the time she was four months old. There were only two to three days that I actually made enough for her not to have to supplement with formula during those four long months. I had had dreams of producing so much that I could donate to local milk banks to be able to help those that couldn’t nurse or had adopted. Instead I was the one that needed help, but I refused to reach out because I was ashamed. Reflecting back on it and looking at the little/big girl in the living room with me, I’m overwhelmed. She’s fine, smart, healthy, stubborn, cute, and usually helpful. She’s beyond okay. She’s my blessing. Every miscarriage helps me see how much more blessed I am to have her! We don’t know if she’ll have a sibling here on Earth or not, we won’t be trying much longer. At some point we need to just move on. Wes has said he won’t let me hit double digits with the miscarriages, and he cringed as he said it, wrapped me in his arms, and started crying. It’s hard on him too. (I had one with my ex-husband too, so that would only be two more before I’m at nine.) I can’t say I know what you’re going through but I can relate to the pain of losing a life only you have had the privilege of knowing. It was there, you were excited, you made plans in your mind, you probably had a few sleepless nights due to shear excitement and an over active mind, I imagine you were able to have conversations with your hubby about at least some of these things. Then one single moment changes it all. Wipes it away. Clears the slate as if nothing was there. Except there was something there, something you won’t forget, something that changes you. That part I know. That part I understand. That part is what has caused me to write you and let you know, you are not alone. Everyone is different, everyone processes things differently, but one thing remains. Life. Your life. Keep living! Don’t give up! Love on the people you do have, make special time with your hubby; he’s dealing with it too.
Just keep livin!!
