Relationships: A Trouble Shared?
"We took Amy to church and lots of people took a small share in nursing her and got to know her. We were all very glad to be able to have her with us, even if for so short a period of time. Her funeral service was very poignant but at the same time helpful to many of us."
"We brought Jessica home when she was nearly 2 weeks old, with fear and trepidation, but in retrospect it was the best thing we did for her and ourselves as a family. We took her out and showed her off to everyone. We live in a small, close knit village and in those short 8 weeks she became a very special part of our community, missed by more than just ourselves."
"Our marriage-although basically sound, has taken many twists and turns during the time since Elliot died. There have been times when we have grieved at different speeds, have felt alone and afraid and on the brink of unknown disaster. My husband's patience and determination, stoicism and unwillingness to let me give in have carried us through to a deeper and more understanding relationship."
"Spend as much time with your other children as you can and don't be afraid of shared care."
"Parents should talk about the situation together. Everyone feels guilt although no one is to blame. I knew I could not care for my daughter any better than I did, but I still feel guilty."
"I kept a daily diary during the life of our baby, and not only was this very therapeutic for me, but the whole family could read it and cry over it. This helped us all to communicate, including my husband who had difficulty in sharing his emotions."