Perhaps you read Stillbirth: Your Stories in the New York Times last week. Perhaps you were brave enough to submit your story, your baby's photo. If so, I want to acknowledge your bravery and your willingness to share your story to help other families and to shine a light on stillbirth, which is too often relegated to the shadows and still considered taboo to discuss. I want to thank you for doing what seems to me to be a very difficult thing.
I was not brave. I contemplated sharing Chiara's story. I kept the link to submit stories on my phone. I pondered what I would say, whether I would share the photo we have of her tiny feet in my hand. In the end, I could not. I am both sad and ashamed that I could not do this. It was too public an arena and I was not ready to share my private pain with the world.
But I read every story. I pored over every beautiful photo they published. I cried for you, for your beautiful babies, and for all that we all have lost. Thank you for sharing your babies with the world, for being honest about your pain, for putting real faces and names and caring suggestions out there for new families impacted by this loss. I am humbled by your accomplishment, this beautiful piece that will hopefully raise awareness so that we can start to decrease the number of babies lost to stillbirth, and ease the pain of families who suffer this terrible tragedy. Thank you.
