Owen’s Short Life:

During my pregnancy nothing was out of the ordinary. My bloodwork and ultrasound scan both came back normal. We had a seemingly healthy baby. He had a heartbeat and would move constantly. At some point though, something changed and we don’t know why. We may never know why.

We discovered at a routine checkup that my baby had no heartbeat at 16+5 weeks gestation. Nothing can prepare you for the moment your provider utters those words.

We made the decision to deliver my baby in the way we had originally planned; un-medicated and without most interventions. This was one of the hardest experiences of my life. So much pain to only end in more grief.

Once Owen had arrived as a beautiful stillborn baby; we began the next steps that no parents should have to face: saying goodbye and planning his funeral.

Why am I sharing this?

The answer is simple, because I have to. While I wish I would have never experienced this tragedy, I firmly believe something beautiful will come out of it. Owen’s life meant something even if he never breathed air in this world.

The unfortunate reality of this life is that 1 in 4 women will experience the loss of a child. It’s not a question of “if”, but “when.” When will I or someone I know experience a loss?

This is why I’m sharing his story, because I never thought I would be that 1 in 4. If it wasn’t for my community I wouldn’t have been able to make it through this. I want to be able to be that support for someone else.

What I believe:

I believe no one should ever go though a loss alone. No one should ever have my experience without a community around them. This is why I strive to support bereaved families though offering support, resources, and more.

I now have first-hand experience involving loss and what it looks like. If I can pass that knowledge on to even just one family and help them though the unimaginable, then Owen’s death would be worth it.

How can you get involved?

There are many ways that you can get involved. Donating to local organizations for loss parents, taking bereavement training classes for yourself or company, or even by simply spreading awareness of pregnancy and infant loss.

We could all use more training and practical resources to support families during a sensitive time such as this.