Why “Sophia’s Story”? My daughter Sophia has a birth and death date: December 31, 2010. From her brief entrance into the world, my writing my born. The original “Sophia’s Story” blog began later that spring, and from there the name has stuck.
Miscarriage is crushing. Recurrent pregnancy loss is devastating. After suffering three miscarriages, we welcomed our Rainbow Baby Evelyn into our lives July 16, 2015. She is a miracle to us as every pregnancy was expected to fail. She was born with similar anomalies as her older sister Sophia; however, unlike Sophia, Evelyn has a fighting chance to survive. Hope was slipping away, yet a sliver of it forever hung on.
My words first flowed as a river of stories about our first loss. It is written as a memoir-style manuscript, and I hope you enjoy it as such. Many ask if writing is a cathartic activity for me, a way for me to find peace with our loss. I always answer the same: No. I love talking about Sophia and sharing her with others. Through all the pain of losing her, this is the joy she has given me. Through her short time with us, she showed me how to return to writing when my life had veered differently for so long. Through sharing Sophia with others, I get to know more about the struggles other people face.
Over time, I have lived more, loved more, and written more. Pieces now include new struggles: pregnancy after loss, prematurity, NICU stays, Rainbow Babies, physical delays, genetics, parenting after loss. As life goes on, so will topics, ideas, and posts.
As is human nature, the camaraderie of others who can be truly empathic is comforting, bringing a sense of community and belongingness. For those who don’t belong to this club (mercifully), I encourage you to become curious about the topic of baby loss, infertility, pregnancy after loss, and the painful world it creates. You are just as important in this journey filling the roles as our family members and friends. Those who live this hell need to talk about it, but don’t always have a place to do so. Those who walk down a less harrowing path do not know how to talk about it, but often want to.
My hope is this project will facilitate this conversation, let us learn from each other, and heal ourselves and each other.
Laura Gaddis 
Your blog is beautiful, if sad at times (how can it not be?). I am so touched by your commitment to and love for Sophia. I believe the spirit that inhabited our first baby (we called him Reade) is alive and well in our one living child (I’ve had 8 miscarriages, two before him and 6 since as you may know). That belief is the basis of my blog’s name, so I feel very drawn to your choices here.
Having said all of that, I hope you will accept the thoughts behind my having nominated you for a One Lovely Blog Award, regardless of whether you accept and post about it (which is optional – no strings attached and no offence taken if you choose not to do so). You can find the post here: http://spiritbabycomehome.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/one-lovely-blog-award/
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It is so amazing for you to share this! my daughter in law has experienced two losses and it is really devastating! I know it is hard to talk about but will help others!
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Profoundly moved by your experiences, and sadly can relate. Thank you for putting this up so that women who are comfortable talking about this stuff can feel less alone.
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Correction: I meant women who are *not* comfortable talking about this stuff. Sorry!
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Thank you for reading! I am sorry for your own loss. I think it is so important to share 🙂
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Your writing has moved my heart.
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Thank you!
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