One in Four

One in four pregnancies will end in a miscarriage or still birth. One in four.

I’ve had four pregnancies. Two of my pregnancies ended completely in miscarriage. My fourth pregnancy was a mix – our twins were triplets for two months.

Four pregnancies. Three children. Three miscarriages.

After the death of our first son we wondered if we’d celebrated his life too soon. If we should have waited until we were in the “safe zone” before getting excited that we were expecting a baby. It did not take us long however to decide that celebrating his life, however brief it was, was the right thing to do. And so we celebrate and remember. And from time to time I still mourn what might have been, who they might have been.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. The 15th of the month is specifically designated as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Several other countries have also adopted it. In honor of the millions of children who left too soon, please join with us tonight in participating in the International Wave of Light. Wherever you are, at 7:00pm, light a candle and leave it burning for an hour. As the world revolves a wave of light will circle the globe.