PAILS

Today is October 15th. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. This year, President Bush also marked this, for the first time, as a day of rememberance. Saturday, on the 13th, I went to Salt Lake's 12th Annual Walk To Remember. There were about 250 people at this specific walk. There was one in Layton, and all over the country.

To start, they had a family speak. The Mom spoke first. Her son, I think his name is Trevor, died suddenly at 7 weeks old. She talked about how she would wake up in the middle of the night thinking she heard him cry. It was only when she got to his empty crib, that she would remember he had died. So she would sit in the rocker, and rock his blanket back and forth, like she had with Trevor. My heart broke for her, myself, and the millions of families that go through this. They also went on to have 5 second trimester losses, and many early miscarriages.

Then her husband spoke, and talked about how men are taught to be tough, and not show emotion, and how you have to greive too. Over 90% of marriages that go through a stillbirth or death of a living child in soon in divorce. At a time you should be coming together, marriages are ripped apart.

Then they had a musical number, and we did our walk. Then we got our balloons. As they read each babies name, that family let their balloons go. Everyone was crying. I think Kleenex's stock went up that day.

There was a man there, and I wish I had gone to speak with him. I can not forget him. He was very very elderly. A beautiful man. His beard hung to his knees, and he stood apart from everyone. All alone with one pink balloon. I watched as he released his one balloon, and I felt more moved than I had that entire day. I dont know who he lost, but you can see how much he loves that baby girl, whoever she was.

This was an amazing experiance, and I know I will do it every year.

If I can figure out pictures, I will add those also. You cant see the balloons very well, it was so cloudy and gloomy. There were so many more than what I could capture in a single photo. The close up of the pink ones are Savannah's balloons.