October 15th

To most people, October 15th is just another day in October. Another day to fight for breast cancer. Another day at work, school, or home. It's just another day.

To the men and women who have suffered with infant loss, miscarriages or stillbirth, October 15th means something else entirely. This is the day of remembrance.  This is the day for them to grieve, all over again. This is the day where they honor their babies who have left this world all too soon. This is their day.

Too many of my friends will be remembering and honoring their angel babies on the 15th. Too many of my friends will be grieving and suffering all over again on the 15th. Too many of my friends grieve every single day.  Too many of my friends have holes in their hearts and empty arms.  Too many friends.

One of these dear friends of mine is Lisa. Lisa and her amazingly strong husband have suffered more in just a few short years, than any couple should ever have to endure in their whole lifetime!  My heart breaks for her, yet I am so inspired by her courage and strength. Her love for the Lord continues to grow over each passing day even through the times I know might have shaken my faith. I don't know how she gets up each day, how she makes it through, and how she inspires me and others around her. Her strength and courage is like something I've never seen before. Her determination to look infertility and loss in the face and just give it a big middle finger makes me love her more and more. She has suffered more miscarriages after losing her son Jake, and somehow still manages to get up each morning and try again. We actually cycled together this summer (which means we had an IUI at the same time).  Both of our attempts ended in a negative test result, but together we rose above it. I love this girl more than she will ever know. To know her, is to love her.  <3 You can read more about her, her story, and her inspirational and emotional journey on her blog Hope After Hope. www.hopeafterhope.com

So what can you do to help?  How can you show your support to these women who have suffered so much when you don't know what to say? You want to help, you want to be there for them, you want to take their pain away but you don't have the words and you don't know where to begin.  This is what you can do.  You can light a candle on October 15th at 7PM. That's it.  It's called the Wave of Light.  This is the day where we can all band together, show our support and come together. I will light my candle and share on my Facebook and Twitter pages to show my support for all of my friends that have already lost way too much in this lifetime.  Please do the same. We may not know what to say, or how we can help, but letting our friends know that we are here for them if/when they need us is a start. This will show our support for them.  They are not alone in this. They are never alone!