I lost my infant daughter, and when that happened, a whole new world of grieving parents opened up to me. Faces of loss, stories of grief, but most importantly, stories of survival, which have encouraged me and propelled me forward.
One of the common themes we share, whether our loss was an early miscarriages, late pregnancy, infant loss, or an older child, is that desire to make known that we will always be that child’s mother. Whether we are mothering them in our arms or in our hearts.
To the grieving moms out there: you are always their mother and you are not alone in this sentiment.
Last year, over thirty parents came together to try to deliver our message and survival tips to grieving parents through the book Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother. When we talked about our goals for the book, we wanted the overarching theme to be hope and encouragement. We want all grieving parents to know that they are not alone, and that it is okay to grieve, to miss that baby, and to let them know you are their mother.
After we published the book, we wanted to go one step further. We want to raise money to donate this book to as many hospitals, bereavement groups, and bereavement support groups as I possibly can.
So… we created a non profit organization: Sunshine After the Storm, Inc. Through this organization we have already donated more than 50 books.
But we want to go one step further.
Introducing the Mother’s Day Campaign
This very special campaign is to raise enough money to donate 100 or more books to hospitals and bereavement groups for Mother’s Day. You are always their mother.
In addition, 10% of all funds raised will be donated by Sunshine After the Storm, Inc. to Donna’s Good Things, the March for Babies (March of Dimes), Mommy to Mommy outreach, Fetal Hope, the TTTS Foundation, Molly Bears, Teeny Tears, and Mikayla’s Grace. (Yes, we need to raise a LOT of money!)
Make your donation HERE.
And we wanted to do one more thing.
In honor of International Bereaved Mother’s Day, which is May 4th, the Sunday before Mother’s Day, we will draw winners for some amazing prizes that have been graciously donated for this cause.
We invite everyone to participate in the Giveaway – you do not have to be a grieving parent, we just ask that you make a donation to the Campaign.
(If you have something you’d like to add to the donation list, it’s not too late to join us! Just email me at katbiggie1@gmail.com and we will get your donation added!)
There’s only one thing you have to do to be entered into the drawing.
Go and donate at least $5 to our fundraising campaign. (It costs us roughly $8 for each book donated)
That’s it.
Because after all, this is our Mother’s Day Campaign, but we can’t do it without your help!
Our giveaway and special campaign has ended, but if this is a cause that speaks to you, we are always looking for donations to help us provide the book free of charge to hospitals and bereavement support groups. You can always donate on our Sunshine After the Storm website.
Please be sure to check out our amazing sponsors:
CarlyMarie – Project Heal and The Seashore of Remembrance
The Sassy Palmetto customized gifts
A Lady In France, Jennie Goutet, Author
Sunshine After the Storm, Inc.
Janine Huldie says
March 25, 2014 at 7:04 amYou know I am so truly proud to be a part of this and just wanted to thank you again for asking me to join, as well as for being a truly wonderful friend. Love you, Alexa!! 🙂 xoxo!!
katbiggie says
March 25, 2014 at 8:02 amJanine, it is I who should be thanking you! You have been such a good friend and supporter, ever since I discovered your blog (which was playing REALLY loud Christmas music!!) two years ago! 🙂
Dana says
March 25, 2014 at 9:01 amWhat a wonderful campaign, Alexa. You inspire me! Sharing this everywhere.
katbiggie says
March 25, 2014 at 10:25 amThank you so much Dana! That means so much to me! I hope you’ll enter the giveaway – there are lots of fantastic prizes that are not “grief” specific!
Tamara says
March 25, 2014 at 4:40 pmSharing this everywhere. What a beautiful and meaningful campaign! And I will unlock those prizes with a donation!
katbiggie says
March 26, 2014 at 5:31 amI really greatly appreciate the support Tamara! You are awesome!!!
another jennifer says
March 25, 2014 at 9:51 pmThis is amazing, Alexa. And so are you! I haven’t had the chance to talk to you about the giveaway yet since I’ve been in Nicaragua. I’m interested in being involved! I’ll try to email you tomorrow about it. 🙂
katbiggie says
March 26, 2014 at 5:30 amSounds good, thanks Jen! It’s never too late!