Moment By Moment

By Marisa BaeseMommy to AnabelAugust 15 – October 2, 2018Trisomy & Congenital Heart Defect Hope: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. The definition of hope is pretty direct and specific, unlike our plans with Anabel. Yet, we found, kept, and clung to hope from May 11 until the day…

By Marisa BaeseMommy to AnabelAugust 15 – October 2, 2018Trisomy & Congenital Heart Defect September, the only full month I had with my daughter. Sounds pretty rough when I say it like that, but it’s not incorrect. Sure I had nearly 8 months to carry her and try to get to know her, but I…

By Madison Shepard We recently announced that we are moving from Southwest Missouri to Southwest Florida for a church plant! We know that we have been called to move there and join the church, and neither of us are questioning that, but I am finding myself scared to leave the place that was meant to…

By Madison Shepard The term “rainbow baby” — a baby born after child loss — is something I use frequently and find comforting. To me it means that there is hope even in hardship. Azure has definitely been a very welcome little joy in our lives after losing two of our babies, and both his…

By Madison Shepard Feeling both joy and grief simultaneously is difficult to live out. I have talked to a couple of my close friends before about experiencing the two individually, but that was in the wake of an early loss and a stillbirth; I had yet to have a living representation of both in my…

“If it were not for hope, the heart would break.” – Scottish Proverb By Madison Shepard The month of January is difficult for me in more ways than one. For many people, New Year’s is a time to move on from things and have a fresh start. For me, it means birthdays for two of…

Dear Me,You do not know it yet, but you are going to face great loss. It will be loss too great to fully comprehend, and few will understand in any capacity, but I promise you will make it through. You are too naïve to realize it now but this loss, this trauma and heartbreak, will…