Sisters in Loss Podcast: Miscarriage, Pregnancy Loss, & Infertility Stories

In today's episode we have Cassidy M. Dear who share's her stillbirth story of daughter Courtney and the Born into Heaven Foundation. Cassidy has become an extreme advocate for stillbirth awareness ever since her own personal loss of her daughter Courtney in 2014. Cassidy strives to dedicate her time by uplifting parents in the community who have also been affected by stillbirth. In 2015 she founded Born Into Heaven Foundation as a financial resource for families in the state of Alabama. She oversees a volunteer board that is dedicated to relieving the financial burden of funeral cost for stillborn babies. Cassidy was awarded her bachelors in Social Work from Auburn University in December 2017. Cassidy lives in Opelika, Alabama with her family. She enjoys dancing and journaling. Born into Heaven Foundation is hosting their Spring Gala on April 14, 2018 in Opelika, Alabama to gather among others, mingle, dine, and support stillbirth awareness.

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Do we need to have grief resolutions or grief goals for this year? In today's episode we have Pachuska Vil-Audain also known as Pat who shares her infertility experience and journey to starting a grief coaching business called Top Counseling. We discuss having and setting grief goals and resolutions. How can we make this New Year one filled with personal growth and inner peace from grief due to pregnancy loss. And how we can commit to our grief journey this year. Pat is a passionate and engaging coach and motivating speaker who works enthusiastically with individuals, couples, families, groups and companies to guide them from turning their dreams into realistic, attainiable & tangible goals. She has been working in the field of industrial psychology & social service since 2001 and she is thrilled to have turned her passion into a business that helps people accept themselves while living happier and healthier lifestyles. Pat focus on motivating & giving her clients the tools & techniques to identify their fears & transform their limited beliefs that keep them stuck from pursuing their goals. Top Counseling Services offers quality coaching services to get our clients motivated & inspired to live out their true purpose, create a more confident and empowered person who can deal with life changes.

Contact number: 718-598-3306

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Business contact e-mail: [email protected]

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Happy New Year 2018!

Welcome Episode 26 of the Erica M. McAfee Podcast. Today's podcast is brought to you by The Honey Pot company. Did you know that there was a black owned, plant based feminine care company? The Honey Pot companies goal is to educate, support and provide women around the world with the tools and resources that promote feminine health and wellness. To learn more about the Honey Pot Company and to get a discount on products visit EricaMMcAfee.com/Honey for more information.

Today's episode is a solo episode of the podcast. I wanted to start the year off with chatting with you about the biggest lesson I learned from 2017, and doing what scares me by being Fearless in 2018. Before I begin, thank you to all who have rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the podcast in Apple Podcasts. You can still complete the Podcast Survey by visiting bit.ly/emmpodcastsurvey and you will be entered into a raffle for a $20 Amazon Gift Card. I love your feedback it helps me get an idea of what type of content you want to hear in the new year.

Thank you to those ladies who have joined the Sister's in Loss facebook group. I did not expect the group to grow so much after just launching it in November. If you haven't joined the facebook group please press pause on this episode and visit sistersinloss.com to join in. There is so much in store for 2018 that I will get into at the end of this episode. Once again you can join us by visiting sistersinloss.com to be apart of the community.

Now, lets get into this episode. What did I learn from 2017? I actually wrote an entire blogpost on the 10 lessons learned from 2017. You can go to EricaMMcAfee.com/Blog to read all of my lessons. But the greatest lesson I learned was that God's plans are always greater than our plans. I started this podcast because God was pushing me to my purpose. I was being stubborn and not listening. But then the holy spirit will continue to bring to my remembrance 2 Timothy 1:7

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Why was I being so fearful about walking in my purpose? Why did I not want to take action? What was I waiting for especially since I had "everything I needed" to take action. Let me tell you how long fear had me. My husband had gifted me a quality microphone and a new Macbook pro in Christmas of 2015. I waited until July 2017 to launch my website and August 2017 to launch this podcast. I cold emailed my first guest and the rest is history. Everyone has said yes of course I am willing to share. Yes, of course I'm ready to tell my testimony. Yes, of course I want to help other women heal from their loss. With over 1000+ downloads later God's plans are always greater than our plans. So, what am I going into 2018 doing? Doing everything that scares me. Being Fearless. Living by 2 Timothy 1:7. God has given me the spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Not Fear!

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Today's Podcast is brought to you by my friends at Audible. Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audiletrial.com/erica.

Can marriage survive the loss of a child? Losing a child is the hardest thing a couple can go through. In fact 80 percent of marriages end in divorce after the loss of a child. For the month of December we are sharing the stories of 4 couples and how their marriages not only survived the loss of a child, but continued to thrive.

In today's episode we have the Garrets. Sheldon and Xenia met in undergrad at Louisiana State University and began dating a little over 10 years ago. They were married in 2013 after completing grad school and moved to Houston a couple of months later. Sheldon is a Senior Business Analyst for a managed healthcare company in Houston. Prior to having our twins, Xenia was a Talent Acquisition Manager for a Restaurant Group here. They are the proud parents of Nolan and Nash (1 year old fraternal twin boys) and Cassius, our 3 year old English Bulldog. Prior to Nolan and Nash, they unfortunately lost a set of twins while they were 17 weeks along. It was the most devastating life event for their family and an adversity they initially struggled with overcoming. They are blessed to have their rainbow twin boys, as well as their angels who will always reside in their hearts.

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Today's Podcast is brought to you by my friends at Audible. Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audiletrial.com/erica.

Can marriage survive the loss of a child? Losing a child is the hardest thing a couple can go through. In fact 80 percent of marriages end in divorce after the loss of a child. For the month of December we are sharing the stories of 4 couples and how their marriages not only survived the loss of a child, but continued to thrive.

In today's episode we have the Warren's. Ivori and Kevin Warren have been married for 16 years and are a the mommy and daddy to an Angel born in heaven on August 21, 2017. Ivori is a creative entrepreneur and many times has some bright ideas, one of which is the Loving Our Angel blog. The blog is their personal journal about her and hubby's journey to healing. Loving Our Angel is also a new initiative that has been added to their non-profit foundation to increase pregnancy and infant loss awareness. As a very private person, it wasn't her initial thought to be so transparent, but as God did when she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in February 2012, He is leading her to be transparent about their loss. Ivori holds degrees in both Psychology and Human Resources Management – and currently working toward a doctoral degree in Higher Education. Kevin holds degrees in both Information Systems & Science and Information Assurance – and currently working towards a doctoral degree in Applied Information System Management.

She is also a MOMpreneur – Creative Director of Ivori Nicole EventsTM, professor, author, speaker, mentor, Chief Operating Officer of the Warren Community Cares Foundation, and active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. He is a United States Army Veteran, Master Rated 82nd Airborne Paratrooper, Chief Executive Officer of the Warren Community Cares Foundation, and active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. We reside in Northern Maryland with our two fur babies, Kole (the spoiled Pit Bull) and Kloe (the bossy cat). Here are the Warren's.

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Today's Podcast is brought to you by my friends at Audible. Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audiletrial.com/erica.

Can marriage survive the loss of a child? Losing a child is the hardest thing a couple can go through. In fact 80 percent of marriages end in divorce after the loss of a child. For the month of December we are sharing the stories of 4 couples and how their marriages not only survived the loss of a child, but continued to thrive.

In today's episode we have the Thompsons. Valencya and Jerrell Thompson are the founders of the #fertilityhope ministry. Valencya Thompson holds Master and Specialist degrees in School Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and has completed seminary studies. Jerrell Thompson is an engineer by trade with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Considering their diverse areas of study joining their female vs. male perspectives, they have written a divinely inspired personal testimony that is an informative read that was written to help you heal as you read about their healing process from losing children preterm to birthing healthy children. In "Our Journey To #fertilityhope", Thompson and Thompson candidly share about their experiences of tragedy & triumph on the road to birthing two children. This text is written on a down-to-earth level intertwined with scholarly-researched biblical scripture and medical commentary by Dr. Desiree' McCarthy-Keith, MD, MPH, FACOG to encourage others who might find themselves on a similar path. In the frequent words of the authors, "Hang in there. Keep the faith. Don't lose hope. Trust God. God has not forgot!" Here are the Thompsons.

You may order this book at www.writethevisioncreativeworks.com, just click "Products".

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Today's Podcast is brought to you by my friends at Audible. Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audiletrial.com/erica.

Can marriage survive the loss of a child? Losing a child is the hardest thing a couple can go through. In fact 80 percent of marriages end in divorce after the loss of a child. For the month of December we are sharing the stories of 4 couples and how their marriages not only survived the loss of a child, but continued to thrive.

In today's episode we have the McCall's. John and Talysa McCall have been married for 6 years and reside Camp Lejeune, NC. John is serving our country in the Marine Corps and Talysa McCall Talysa holds a MBA in Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University & currently works as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Lower Cape Fear Hospice. The McCalls have endured several relocations, a healthy pregnancy, a miscarriage that shook their marriage, and a devastating diagnosis during the pregnancy with their rainbow baby. Talysa aspires to one day start her own non-profit organization focused on instilling self-confidence & self-validation skills to young girls. Talysa believes her life's mission is to help others through connections. Here are the McCall's.

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In today's episode Kori Williams shares her multiple loss story and surprise rainbow baby. Kori is a PR and communications professional. She founded K-Will Communications, LLC (KWC) in 2015, the company uses comprehensive PR and communications solutions to help entrepreneurs motivate, educate and inspire others through public speaking. Shortly after rolling out her company, Kori experienced a miscarriage (October 2015) and a second trimester loss (stillbirth at nearly 23 weeks) the following October (2016). She buried her daughter (Parker), and spiraled into a deep depression for months. After taking a moment to regroup, she decided to pick up the pieces of her seemingly broken life and career only to learn she'd been carrying another child the entire time; she was five and a half months pregnant and had no clue. Kori was immediately put on bedrest and gave birth to her first living child in August 2017—a beautiful, healthy baby girl named Miyaka'nwi, which means 'Thank you, God'. Having always been driven and highly motivated, Kori is committed to rebuilding her life and career through the new lens of motherhood—sharing her story in an effort to minimize the stigma and silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss.

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In today's episode Tamira Dunn shares her 2nd trimester loss story due to an incompetent cervix of son Elijah and her inspiration for Elijah's Hope Foundation Incorporated. The foundation sponsors an annual walk for pregnancy and infant loss in Baltimore and donates a portion of the proceeds to their scholarship fund which supports doctoral students who are majoring in women and reproductive health. The loss of her son was very heartbreaking, but she has used her passion for helping others to create a resource for women who have experienced the same loss. A year after her loss, she accepted a position at Roberta's House as the Program Manager for the Hope Project. The Hope Project provides supportive services to women who have experienced a fetal or infant loss before the child's first birthday. Ms.Dunn is truly using her testimony to help others. Her goal is to empower women to keep the faith in spite of their loss.

Founder of Dream Girls Mentoring Program, Incorporated, Tamira Dunn is a 30-year-old native Baltimorean raised with her younger brother by a single mom. She attended Baltimore County Schools and graduated from Parkville High School in 2004. After high school, she attended Morgan State University where she received her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology in 2008. She decided to further her education and received a Master of Science degree in Human Service Administration from University of Baltimore. She is a currently a Ph.D. candidate at Walden University. Ms. Dunn's passion for the youth and community started while she was in high school. She was always trying to find a way to "make a difference". Watching many of her peers and close friends have children at a young age; she felt it necessary to provide a program that would deliver resources and support to young moms. Ms. Dunn has received many citations from Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake and Senator Barbara Mikulski. She has also been awarded a resolution from Council President Bernard Jack Young's office for her countless efforts towards bettering the lives of teen moms. She is apart of the Women of Power Organization and received her award in 2011 and awarded Top 30 under 30 by 92Q Jams.

Ms. Dunn is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and an active member of Beta Alpha Tau Zeta Chapter. She has dedicated countless hours as a community servant with the Mayor's Office during many youth events. Motivated by the quote, "Be the change that you wish to see in the world" by Mahatma Gandhi, Ms. Dunn wishes to continue to encourage, uplift, and motivate women to become their own CEO. She wants young women to go after their dream no matter how big or small.

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In today's episode Tanika Dillard shares her recurrent pregnancy loss story including 2nd trimester miscarriages and a stillbirth. Tanika Dillard is a natural leader, motivational speaker, and trusted counselor to her peers. She is a credentialed certified birth and bereavement doula, where she offers compassionate physical, emotional, and spiritual support to expectant families in any trimester and any birth outcome. Tanika's passion for breaking the silence of pregnancy loss positioned her as founding member and Facilitator for Share Upstate Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Group. Her efforts to honor the lives of her children and increase awareness on the taboo subject have uniquely connected her with medical professionals and grieving families across the globe. In August 2014, Tanika embarked upon a new phase in the literary revolution by releasing Building A Family Breaks My Heart; a best selling novel inspired by her blog writings. Building A Family Breaks My Heart is a magnificent work of heart, capturing the essence of despair from loss and the beauty of dreams fulfilled. The novel is sure to capture and connect the hearts of those who have experienced pregnancy loss, infertility, or supporters of those who have.

Crafting pitch perfect melodies and poetry are Tanika's ways to articulate the emotions in her heart. Her love for writing began as an adolescent, often writing about love, family, and faith in God. A passionate revolution for writing was birthed in 2009 after recurrent pregnancy loss. Tanika needed an effective avenue to channel her grief and unwavering desire to have a family. Eloquently flowing words were crafted from the life-changing pain in her blog, The Journey of Love and Life. Her compelling message has been shared on Open To Hope Radio show with Dr. Gloria Horsley and on the TEDx Stage.

She has released her first single, "I Am Dreaming". This heartfelt musical tribute is her way to honor the lives of four children: Destiny, Briauna, Madison, and Israel Grayson who have passed away.

Dillard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management from Lander University. Tanika's most prestigious titles are wife and mother. She and husband Christopher reside in Greenville, SC with their sons, Ethan and Evan.

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