MARCH OF DIMES | MARCH FOR BABIES | NACERSANO

Welcome to Share Union 2015- Introduce Yourself

Welcome! Please take a moment and introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about why you are attending Share Union 2015. If you would like, please share a photo of yourself so we can recognize you in Chicago.

Jami H

31 Replies

  • TrinitysMommy

    In reply to mklmeier:

    So glad to have had the chance to meet you both. Already can't wait till next year.

    Much love,
    Samantha
  • Jacoby's Mom

    In reply to mklmeier:

    So glad that you and Bonnie were able to come and be with all of us at Share Union. Keep blogging and keep sharing! We're here to support you where you are in your journey.
  • mklmeier
    I'm a little late! Wanted to let everyone know that Bonnie and I had a great time and met a lot of great people and look forward to coming to the next Share Union.
  • CharlieAllene's mom

    In reply to 99days:

    Hi Cassie! I can't wait to meet you in person!
  • 99days

    Cassie

    Hello everyone! I'm Cassie and I get to come meet all of you. I had a 25 week preemie almost 4 years ago. He is doing well now, but we definitely have been through a lot with our Bruce. I am really excited to meet all of the people who are on here who have formed this great community. At home I am a stay at home mom, but I used to be a teacher. I will probably go back when Bruce goes to school full time. I volunteer at the hospital where Bruce was born to meet with parents in the NICU and provide a kind face to share and connect with. Our group is called Parent 2 Parent and we have pizza socials, coffee and donut days, scrapbooking nights, and donate baby clothes and blankets. We are working on getting the families a support system like we so badly needed when we were in the hospital. I love the March of Dimes and have been doing the local walk for the past 3 years. I look forward to getting to know everyone at the Share Union more! Being a preemie parent never ends.
    Cassie

  • grandmamary

    In reply to Jami H:

    Yes I registered. My confirmation # is SHAR44E422. Please let me know if there is a problem with it and I if I need to do any else.
  • SeansMomJen

    Hi, My name is Jenny (SeansMomJen) and this will be my first share union! I am excited for it! We lost Sean coming up on four years ago a week before Christmas when I was at 21 weeks due to Fifth's Disease after a failed attempt at blood transfusion. I have two other boys, a 6 year old and a 2 year old. I found Share Your Story shortly after we lost Sean when I was searching for others that I could relate to and talk about the loss with. I have become more active on the site this past year and have enjoyed every minute of it! I'm looking forward to October!

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  • Jami H

    In reply to grandmamary:

    grandmamary did you go to the site and register for SU yet? I don't think I've seen your name yet and I just want to make sure you have a room reserved :)

    Jami
  • grandmamary

    My name is Maryann aka Grandma Mary. This will be my second Share Union. I attended my first two years ago. It was SO wonderful to finally meet so many of those who I came to know through this site. I have five granddaughters, including our angel Braelynn and one grandson.

    I found Share Your Story after my daughter gave birth June 2, 2010 to twins at 28 weeks. My granddaughter Braelynn Nicole passed away the next day, a half hour after the doctor said she was doing better than her brother AJ. Even after an autopsy, we have no idea why she died. AJ spent a rocky 11 weeks in the NICU, and today is a healthy, happy, outgoing little guy. My niece also has an angel. Kaleb was still born 21 years ago due to a blood clot in the umbilical cord.

    Even though it was beyond difficult to watch my granddaughter die in my daughter's arms I am so thankful I was there at the worst moment of her life. Afterwards, I felt like I was grieving for two, my granddaughter and the hopes and dreams that were shattered for my daughter. Share Your Story helped me not only with the death of Braelynn, but also with supporting my daughter Bethany.

    I am looking forward to reconnecting with those I know and meeting others who I may not.

  • Jami H

    Hello, My name is Jami, and I am one of the volunteers on Share Your Story. I live in Northern Indiana so I will am within driving distance to Chicago. I joined Share in 2008 after my daughter Arianna was born at 23 weeks and passed away. I attended my first Share Union in 2012 and it was life changing. It was so wonderful being able to spend an entire weekend just being Arianna's mom without the sympathetic stares or uncomfortable words. It is an incredible weekend and you will not regret attending. If you have any questions over the weekend, please don't hesitate to ask me. See you all in Chicago!

  • bnmeier

    Hi everyone!  I tried to reply when I was on my phone, and I replied in the wrong spot!  This my husband's and my first time attending Share Union.  I have two boys Grant (4 years old) and Lincoln (1 year old).  Lincoln is my NICU baby.  I was put on hospital bed rest at the end of my 28th week because of severe IUGR and low amniotic fluid.  My hospital bed rest time was a roller coaster ride, but we made it to 34 weeks when my OB decided to deliver.  Lincoln was born weighing 2 lbs 14 oz and 16 inches long.  We spent another 3 1/2 weeks in the NICU.  It was such a difficult time in our lives, and I have become very passionate about giving back to my local hospital's NICU.  We gave care packages to current NICU families for Lincoln's 1st Birthday.  After that experience I had to opportunity to meet many more NICU families, and we created a NICU page for our hospital.   We have also planned our first NICU Reunion to take place on September 26th!  Now we are working on a Parent Support Group and a Peer Mentor Progam.  There are so many exciting things happening, and I am so happy to be a part of it!  I am looking forward to meeting everyone, and learning more from all of your experiences.

  • Angel Love

    In reply to Mary Beth:

    Hey y'all! 

    I'm Tracy and I am the mom of twin girls Taylor and Ansley.  The girls were born at 27 weeks and after 15 hours, we had to say goodbye to Taylor.  Ansley is now 12 and has the side effect of over protective parents.  If you can't tell by my greeting and the red text, I'm from Georgia and look forward to meeting y'all in Chicago soon!!  This will be Shareunion #9 for me and YES--SHAREUNION IS REAL!!  (Talk to me in Chicago if you want the backstory on that comment!Wink

    P.S.  I was going to post a pic, but apparently all of mine are poster sized and won't fit!  Just listen for the southern drawl!

  • Mary Beth
    Hi! I'm Mary Beth, the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Specialist in Kentucky. I'll be attending my first Share Union this Fall and am SO excited! I'll also be bringing 2 of our NICU nurses who also happen to be preemie/NICU moms. Along with my sidekick, Aimee, I'll be sharing with all of you what we are doing in Kentucky to promote SYS. It's such a wonderful resource for our families and I love helping them find their way to it. Hoping to get some tips from you guys on what you find most helpful on Share.

    I so looking forward to meeting everyone and connecting in person in October. Safe travels to all!
  • lvazquez

    Hey there, I'm Lindsay! I'm flying in from Phoenix, AZ. This will be my 6th SU. I am a mom to three preemie boys: 2 living and 1 angel. Donovyn was born at 32 weeks due to severe preeclampsia and spent 3 weeks in the NICU. He is turning double digits this year! Tristyn was born at 34 weeks and was able to come home. He just turned 8. Naethyn was born sleeping at exactly 30 weeks. I had undiagnosed preeclampsia and a placental abruption coupled with a blood clot. I found the Share site just days after our loss and I am really grateful to be able to meet up with people who truly "get it." Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and welcoming new ones in Chicago! Save Ferris!

  • Donna S

      

    Hi all! I'm Donna from San Diego, CA. I've only missed one SU since we started way back in 2005. I came to Share in January 2005. My oldest, Ryley, was born at 26 weeks following 16 days of hospital bedrest due to a placenta abruption. He spent 93 days in the NICU. Ryley will be 15 years old in a few weeks. He has a sister, Grace, born full term, 12 months and 19 days younger than he, and a brother, Ethan, also full-term. We call ourselves the Herd. Can't wait to see everyone in Chicago!

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