As we enter Advent, the season of waiting for the Christ child, Presbyterian Outlook is sharing the stories of parents who bear the grief of infertility, pregnancy loss and infant loss. As a part of this series, Presbyterian Outlook graciously asked Patrick to write a reflection on stillbirth from a father’s perspective.
“More than anything, please see me. See a father. Because maybe if you take the time to see me, you’ll see them too. You’ll see Ezra. You’ll see Leo. You’ll see all of my children.
You’ll see love.”
Visit Presbyterian Outlook or http://pres-outlook.org/ to also find the other articles featured in this moving and much-needed series highlighting the stories of other parents who have also faced grief –
There is a reflection on infertility and the struggle to conceive;
“Struggling to Conceive,” written by Jena Hernandez
http://pres-outlook.org/2017/11/struggling-to-conceive/
Another woman shares the story of her miscarriage, which led her to organize a support group for others who have endured the grief of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss;
“Volume two,” written by Kristin Willitt
http://pres-outlook.org/2017/11/volume-two/
There is the story of a family who bravely carried their son to term, knowing that he would die shortly after birth;
“Parenting Silas,” written by Courtney Fields Connelly
http://pres-outlook.org/2017/11/parenting-silas/
And finally, there is the story of a family who lost their beloved daughter to the senselessness of SIDs at 5 months old.
“Difficult Roads,” written by Jen Drinkall
http://pres-outlook.org/2017/11/difficult-roads/
Though society has too often stigmatized and silenced these stories, I am encouraged to see that more and more people are shattering that silence and speaking out. May the sharing of these stories bring others healing and peace.
As we start the next step in the journey to create our family, we are facing new challenges. We anticipate that the adoption process will cost somewhere around $40,000. Though our adoption agency is a nonprofit organization, these costs go to pay for the legal expenses, the counseling that the agency provides for the birth mother and her family, some of the birth mother’s medical bills and living expenses, etc.
If you would like to help us offset some of the costs, you can support our adoption journey here –
https://www.youcaring.com/jennaandpatrickheery-1026485
End of the Rainbow 