My dear friend Olga was expecting her baby girl any day. As the eagerly anticipated due date came and went and April folded into May, like a bunch of mother hens, we joyously debated the merits of a diamond birthstone vs. emerald. This morning beautiful Heidi came to this world stillborn. It was a sucker punch to the gut. The grief. The shock. The profound despair. The cruelty of Mother’s Day on the horizon. I wanted so badly for time to rewind. Do a takeover.
Suddenly I felt ashamed at the frivolity of my thoughts: shaving a minute or three off a race time, dropping 5 lbs, recovering from Boston, that had previously occupied my mind. Physical recovery is finite. How does a parent go on after losing a child?
Please join me in wishing the bereaved parents, their family and friends peace and comfort as we grieve for an angel that was taken to heaven all too soon.
My heart goes out to all of you. I'm so sorry to hear this.
I'm so sorry. My heart breaks for your friend and her family.
How awful! I'll be keeping them in my thoughts.
Oh, I am so sorry for your friend's loss. Having two boys of my own, I cannot even imagine what she and her family must be going through. My thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of need.
Oh gosh, how terrible. My thoughts go out to the family. 🙁
many thoughts and prayers going out your your friend and her family!
absolutely heart breaking! praying for comfort, peace and strength for the family!
I'm so very sorry for your friend's baby – there is nothing worse than losing a child, period! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your friend's families!! Big hugs!
My prayers, heart and thoughts are with them tonight! I am sorry for their loss…
So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend's child. Sounds like Heidi made an impact on others before she was even born. Please give Olga and her family our thoughts and prayers.
I'm so sorry. We also lost a baby between our two beautiful girls. I'm so thankful for them. My sympathies go out to her and her family.
I am so sorry for your friend. Thinking and praying for them.
Sending prayers of healing and blessings for this family.
Thoughts and prayers to your friend.
How awful…I just heard last night that my dear dear friend lost her son yesterday. What a sad time so close to mothers day to loose a child.
Sending healing and peaceful thoughts to your friend.
i'm so so sorry marcia. sending love to your friend and family.
Marcia, my love and thoughts go out to all of you who know and love your friend. This must me so difficult.
Oh my, how devastating. There is nothing harder to deal with than the loss of a child. My thoughts go to you and your friends.
This is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you and your friend. May you all find peace.
This is just horrible and puts everything in perspective.
So sorry…May you all find peace and I will have her on my prayer!
It's so sad. Most of us assume the birth of a healthy child – we just take it for granted. There will be so much to grieve for – the hopes and the dreams gone in a cruel stroke. My thoughts are with your friend.
Sooooo sorry for your friend. I have a friend who had a stillborn two years ago. It was so hard seeing that baby and then going to the funeral.
How devastating- I'm so sorry to hear such tragic news. My thoughts are with your friend's family during this difficult time.
what a terrible, terrible thing. sending prayers your way.
And I hope that your friend who ran on sunday is doing better now.
That is awful! I am sitting here crying at the computer now. I will say a prayer for her and her family!
That's just awful. I'm so sorry for your friend and her family. I'll be thinking of them.
How heartbreaking. I'll keep your friend in my prayers.
I know that pain. It's tough. It sours everything for a bit. I'm sorry for her. Give her lots of hugs.
This is just terrible; I can't imagine the pain they are going through. My thoughts are with your friends during this time.
Thank you for reminding us to put all of our personal ambitions in perspective.
I am praying for Olga and her family.
Oh, Marcia, I'm so sorry to hear that. Please let your friend know that I will keep her and all her family in my prayers.
I'm with you [in thoughts and prayers]. I went through this one year ago [yep, ON mother's day]. painful. I am so very sorry.
Children should bury their parents No parent should ever have to bury a child. Prayers and condolences are with you and your friends. What a tradegy. Puts things in perspective.
Laura
That is so sad. My deepest condolences to your friend. Losing a child is nearly every parents greatest fear and it's plain unfair.
Thoughts go out to your friend's family. What a terrible loss.
I am so sorry for Olga. I have a friend who recently lost her baby (in the second trimester) and I feel so bad for her. I just don't know what to say 🙁
I am so so sorry for your friend. That kind of loss is so hard to heal from, if at all. There is a reason for everything, though sometimes we can't fathom what the reason could possibly be. My thoughts are with you and your friends.
i am so sorry for your friend and her family! i can't begin to imagine what that's like, but it's definitely a good reminder to keep our own petty "issues" in perspective. thoughts and hugs to them!
Marcia, beautifully said. You have such a magical way with words. It's been such a tough day – I am praying with all of my might for Olga and her family. No one should ever have to endure such pain.
Sending love and light their way. We will be praying for healing and peace for them.
Praying for them right now. I cannot imagine the pain and grief. Life can be so cruel sometimes.
That's so sad *hugs*
Oh, that is so, so, so terrible. Just awful. I feel for your friend and her family. As a pregnant woman, that is my worst fear. I'm so sad for your friend.
I too have experienced the sucker gut punch mentioned here. No words can describe what it feels like.
Oh goodness, I'm just catching up. I am so sorry for the loss, my heart and prayers go out to you and that sadden family.
My parents lost a child before me. My mom says it gets easier and easier, but to this day it was the darkest year of her life she says. The best thing you can do for you friend is be there. Make sure she gets up, make sure she eats, make sure she does the things to take care of herself. You are an awesome person/friend – she will be lucky to have you by her side.
OMG I am so sorry for Olga and her family…what a terrible loss. I can not begin to imagine how they feel…so sad…
so sorry for Olga, this is very sad.