Hopeful Heart Project

Frankly, there are things you hope you never need to use. Flood insurance, a fire extinguisher, even a seat belt. These come to mind when I think of things that I’m very grateful are there, but I hope I never need. Grief support. You may think, “I hope I don’t need that,” but that’s unrealistic. We all will be, or have been, affected by death. The caveat to grief support that I’m referring to what most pray they will never experience. And that is of a loss of your child.

I’m at the one-year mark for me and my husband having lost our baby girl Willow Jane on November 4, 2018. A life-altering devastation. Our faith in God, deep love as a couple, and friends and family support have been the nucleus of managing our life after our unfathomable loss. And yet, truth be known, it still isn’t always enough for me. It’s not enough for many mamas. Grief is a fluid beast. It’s ever changing and completely individualized. With that, I say this with confidence: Having a support group that knows exactly what you are going through on a personal level is indescribably comforting.

The infant loss support group that I love so much, The Hopeful Heart Project, has been like a refuge for me. I never feel like I’m able to accurately define the level of kindness, compassion and understanding in its well-deserved totality. Words are plentiful, but when you find a safe space to be able to share about your loss, about your child and about what parenting a baby that’s not in your arms looks like, words can fail. This support isn’t always tangible, and more a feeling and an emotion — like the ease of wearing your favorite sweatshirt on a relaxed Saturday with no pressure to go outside and be seen. Always there and always comfortable.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. A time when loss parents may share a little more than usual about their baby/ child/pregnancy that they hold in their hearts. If you or someone you know is needing an outlet, I encourage you to learn more about the Hopeful Heart Project.

who:

Hopeful Heart Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing hope, healing and support to parents who have endured the tremendous loss of a child.

what:

Hopeful Heart Project was founded in 2017 by Jen Burgard and Kayla Sorum, two area mothers who united over the recovery of the loss of their children at birth. Together, the two felt compelled to offer additional support for parents with similar experiences in the Fargo-Moorhead community and beyond.

The organization provides “hope gifts” to parents immediately following their loss(es). Hope gifts are a collection of self-care items designed to promote reflection and healing in the aftermath of tragedy and trauma. A critical step in ensuring no parent feels alone in their grief journey is connection to others who understand their pain. By hosting various events within the community we are fostering those relationships, as well as growing awareness surrounding pregnancy and infant loss. Hopeful Heart Project also offers the proper tools and support for parents to plan remembrance and/ or memorial events in honor of their child(ren). We want these parents to feel supported and empowered to share their stories and beautiful children with the world.

why:

Families impacted by tremendous grief following the loss of a child are often left without a proper network of support or resources to help with their grief and self care. They can struggle to find a safe place to share their stories of sorrow and joy in their complex lives after loss. This was true for the founders, and finding each other was a turning point in their journey. They now strive to create a network of support for others who have experienced the loss of a child. While nothing can give back what these parents need most, we can all give them a community that stands behind them while remembering their children with them.

For More Information

visit hopefulheartproject.org. [ aw ]

JOIN IN THEIR NEXT EVENT,

“Love & Light,” a special concert and event in honor of pregnancy and infant loss, October 11, 6–10 p.m., in the Stone Building, downtown Fargo. For ticket information contact info@hopefulheartproject.org.