Reaching Out

Ever since Betsy came home from the hospital it has been my dream to reach out to other families who have had an NICU baby or most certainly suffered the loss of a baby. I have wanted to share the story of my babies and our struggles and obstacles but most importantly I have wanted to give families hope. I've wanted to be a shoulder for other babylost parents to cry on. I've wanted to be a supporter to NICU families who really struggle daily wondering if their journey will ever end and wondering how they will make it. I want to help families who have to say goodbye too soon to their angels by sharing how I have gotten through it. Not only can I give someone the support I wish I had but I believe it will be so therapeutic for me.

So let me tell you how I am making this dream a reality. We met a family in 2009 at our very first March for Babies event. Just so happens this family knew my dad from his bank. Just so happens this family worked very closely with March of Dimes. They were so kind to nominate us to be the ambassador family last year at the March of Dimes Signature Chef's Auction where we got to share our story for the first time to a crowd of supporters and help raise tons of money to benefit March of Dimes. I was hooked from that moment and knew this was exactly what I wanted to do.

I wouldn't say I "bugged" the March of Dimes Community Director, but I did reach out to her quite obsessively to get myself involved. She so very kindly met with me and told me she would love to have me sharing my story and helping out as much as she saw fit with the March of Dimes. I was ecstatic. This was exactly what I wanted...just to let them know I AM HERE and willing.

She went on to tell me she had quite a few people comment about Team Betsy and how they loved our enthusiam about March for Babies. She wanted to get me involved for next year's walk which was my ultimate goal...I LOVE March for Babies and can't wait to really get my hands all over this. I was also invited to be on the comittee for the March of Dimes Signature Chef's Auction for this year. So awesome. This is a big event that raises a TON of money. I'm excited to see what all I can bring to the table.

And lastly, I was asked to join other volunteers at Mercy Hospital NICU to become a Parent-to-Parent volunteer. This is exactly what I have wanted to do. I want to be able to sit down with other families and share with them, to really be there and listen to anything they need to talk about. I really wish I had had someone who I could talk to when my girls were in the NICU. I needed someone, another parent who had been there, to talk to, to let me know I WAS going to get through this. I am hoping I can be the support families need as they have to say goodbye too soon to their little angels and that I can share with them my experience and how I have picked up the pieces. That is so important to me because there were days I wasn't sure I was going to make it. To be able to see and talk to someone who had JUST walked in my shoes would have been HUGE for me. I am hoping this brings some great peace and comfort to myself as well. I hope while at the same time I am listening to other families cry, I can find the strength inside myself to overcome the loss of Grace and Olivia.

I feel as though this is my "calling", as though these people were placed in my life for a reason and this is it. I am always so afraid of losing Grace and Olivia's memory, and have struggled to find a way for their legacy to live, not only through Betsy, but through me helping other families. I can't wait to see what all is in store for me...