birth loss

Acknowledging what has happened is such a significant part of processing trauma. What OAW provides is a tangible way to acknowledge both the loss and the love. Giving families something real to hold onto—especially when everything else feels shattered—is something that cannot be replaced.

After everything happened, samples from Amari’s umbilical cord were sent for testing. It took just over six months to receive the results. That’s when we finally received a diagnosis: Walker-Warburg Syndrome, an extremely rare and severe form of muscular dystrophy that affects the brain and eyes. Only about 1 in 100,000 babies are born alive…

It’s hard to imagine a life without the perspective and hope that stillbirth has brought me. And it’s even harder to imagine a life where I never got to love my son — even if it was only for a moment.

There’s always a feeling that something — or someone — is missing. Sometimes it hits like a wave. Other times it’s more subtle, like that nagging sense of “I’m forgetting something.” But I’m not. I’m remembering someone: my son.

The photos of Caleb are the only ones we have, aside from the few my husband took after birth. I look at them often. They remind me he was real, even if only for part of a day. I didn’t know how much I’d treasure them until after. I’m so thankful for the nursing staff…

Nothing else can even come close to the support On Angels’ Wings has given us. They continuously check on us and keep our kids’ memories alive. Their organization and support mean everything to me. I’ve made lifelong friendships with people who truly care and understand what I’ve been through.

Learn more about what stillbirth is, why stillbirth still occurs, and stillbirth risks to help educate yourself and others about this difficult-to-talk-about topic. 

If I could tell another family anything, it would be this: document every single moment. One day, you’ll be so thankful you did. Our memories fade, but photos keep them alive. Some of the images I have from Poppy’s birth show me moments I’d forgotten. They remind me that she was here, she was real,…

Her birth was healing. It was everything we hoped it could be. Every second of her pregnancy felt like we were holding our breath—and finally, we could exhale.

The photos OAW took of Gracie mean so much to us. They give me something to remember her by—something real to hold on to. We try to attend everything we can with OAW. The women there are wonderful. The events help me cope with the loss.