Thank You for the Healing

By Christine Russo

We can talk about babyloss now, and I am so relieved that we are having this discussion; that our losses are being validated, and our children are being remembered. I was thrust into this community 18 months ago, and the progress we've made in this short time is astounding. People are acknowledging our need as mothers to hold our dead or dying babies. To dress them, to bathe them, to speak of them, to keep their special 'things', and to memorialize them forever with pictures, funerals, hand/footprints, etc. I'm beginning to see society understand how much of a necessity this is for our mother souls.

And I couldn't be more thankful.

When you sit there and listen to me mention my daughter who left this world too soon without changing the subject or walking away...Thank you.

You're weaving another stitch into that broken piece of my mother heart. You are giving me permission to speak freely, without censors for your own comfort. That's when a little healing occurs. You may not realize, but that tiny (possibly insignificant) conversation has meant much more to my healing journey than you might know.

And I notice it. I notice when you allow me to say her name or slip pieces of her story into conversations...Thank you.

Again, you are helping to pave the road in my healing. My heart NEEDS those moments. My heart feels full after those open conversations, truly. Because I want to mention her and our story. I want to talk about our journey and my baby girl's short little life. She may be gone to you, and that's ok, but she is still in my life every day. And for you to recognize that is a huge deal.

It's the little things when dealing with child loss that mean the most. When you 'like' our child's photos on facebook (as small as that sounds) it feels good and I appreciate it much...Thank you.

When I'm sent beautiful quotes or pictures of butterflies, it seriously sends a wave over my heart...Thank you.

Our society is starting to get it. More and more people are understanding that we can't simply 'move on' from this child we created. You see that we carry them in our hearts with us.

We can have this discussion about our babies and about loving them unconditionally. I'm seeing this discussion and I'm seeing more and more empathetic hearts. You understand that they are our children, and dead or alive we need to share about them.

When you do that, when you understand that need and discuss our stories, you are the healing. You are the mending. And I thank you.

~ ~ ~

Christine Russo is a wife to an amazing, supportive husband, and a mommy to Angel Gianna Marie, and her little brother, Romeo. She carried Gianna after receiving a fatal diagnosis halfway into her pregnancy. Through the love and spirit of their special daughter, who means the world to them, they wish to help support other families who have to say goodbye to a piece of their heart.