Today I got to get together with a family I meet at work a few years ago at work. They come every year and they make it a point to come visit me each time they are in town. They have become big supporters of my March For Babies and truely are amazing people. Today we were invited over to their Condo on the beach to hang out and really chat. So the boys and I packed up our swim bag and headed over.
One question they asked kind of caught me off guard.
"How did you get so involved with the March Of Dimes?"
It took a second to collect my thoughts and began to explain to them how I became so involved. Eight and a half years ago I was so lost, my daughter had just died and the funeral was over. Everyone that had been there, had started to move forward in their lives, yet I was stuck. I didn't understand how my friends and family could get up the next day and head to work and on with the day to day things that needed to be done. I could barely climb out of bed and most days in the begining I didn't. I told them how I was up late one night, I was on the computer, trying to avoid the loneliness of the night. I typed in google "My daughter died and I need help" and ShareYourStory came up. It was then that I finally found a group of people who really did understand my feeling. As my eyes welled up, I told them about this amazing place and how it saved me. SHARE got me through the really hard days, helped me celibrate to good days. I told them about SHARE getting me through my high risk pregnancy with Jaxson, his NICU stay, as well as all the things that we were still dealing with due to Jadon early arrival.
Tonight as I think of the day and the conversation I can help but remember... I remember those first few comments. I remember the "me too". Those who had lost before me, gave me hope. They were surviving the unimaginable. When I thought I couldn't survive the pain and emptiness I felt, their survival helped me to survive. I can never truely put into words how much SHARE means to me. Sometimes it take moment like today to see how far I've come since those early days here. I'm not sure where I would be today if I hadn't stumbled onto this site that night. I am beyond thankful for those I have met along the way. I am thankful for this community and all those who help make it happen.
Thank you for sharing this and for being a part of this truly awesome community. I believe that the connections we make and the support we give and the kindness we show to others in life is really all that matters in the end. There is something so special about this place because it is filled with people making those connections and lifting one another up. It's beautiful and I feel honored to be a part of it.
I am, too. Where would we be? I don't even know or want to know. It's so crazy how much stronger I am now than when I first found the site. It's also crazy how much it matters that it's still here, that we are all still here for each other when the waves come.
Hugs,
Shannon
We're so glad you found Share not only because it helped you but because you've become an invaluable part of this community. You're support has helped so many more than you probably realize. Thank you for all you do and all you contribute. You and everyone else here makes this place what it is, a safe place for angel mamas, NICU survivors, parents of special needs kids, everyone who didn't get what they planned when those two pink lines showed up.
So much love to you!!
Tommie
I'm not really sure where I would be without this community, I'm not sure I want to know. I hate what we went through to get here but I am glad we are here together.
Jami
That's great, I agree it's great to be around people that can understand and relate to even with just a "Me too."