HAGERSTOWN, MD - The holiday season is just underway, but the Christmas tree is already up for the Nalley family: it was never taken down because it was this time last year when they lost their first-born son.
"It is something that nobody wants to talk about and it helps us keep Bentley's name alive. He might not be here, but he's my son, and I'm able to live my life in honor of him. I told him I would always live my life to honor him," says Stephanie Nalley, a Mother who faced pregnancy loss at 37 weeks.
When a child loses parents, they are called an orphan, but when parents lose a child there is no word to describe them. Now families give a face to pregnancy loss.
"We want to remember our babies," says Stephanie.
"It's scary to think about babies dying. You expect to bury your parents, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles when they get older. You don't expect to bury children, or a baby," says Kelly Leigh, a Mother who also suffered pregnancy loss near 37 weeks.
Parents say they've lost their babies but not their place in their family.
"We celebrate each month, each 18th of the month, we visit his grave and we let balloons go," says Stephanie.
Mothers say siblings are especially affected.
"He talks about what's going to happen when he gets to heaven, and when him and his brother meet their big brother for the first time," says Kelly.
Now they turn to each other for support.
"I try to talk to any dad that comes to "Labor of Love" and anybody I can reach out to. I'm always there for support," says Blake Nalley, the father who suffered the pregnancy loss with his wife, Stephanie.
Parents say little things like wearing bracelets with Bentley and Aydan's name even helps.
"It brings tears to my eyes because that might seem small, but that's all I have. I don't get to get smiles and pictures and his opening his first Christmas, his first birthday gifts, I get to see what people do to honor my son," says Stephanie.
"The day that I saw Landon and Kyler, I knew that although I've experienced the greatest loss every imaginable, I was going to be okay; that they were my rainbow babies. They brightened my whole entire world and they still do," shares Kelly.
The calm after the storm, they say, that never let's you forget the babies who will always be your children.
In memory of pregnancies lost, anyone across the world is invited to light a candle at 7pm October 15 to create a "wave of light."
A group of more than 50 gathered at the Hagerstown Fairgrounds to share their stories.
To follow Stephanie and Blake's story, or find resources on support groups, you can visit their blog.
More information can be found on this website.
"It is something that nobody wants to talk about and it helps us keep Bentley's name alive. He might not be here, but he's my son, and I'm able to live my life in honor of him. I told him I would always live my life to honor him," says Stephanie Nalley, a Mother who faced pregnancy loss at 37 weeks.
When a child loses parents, they are called an orphan, but when parents lose a child there is no word to describe them. Now families give a face to pregnancy loss.
"We want to remember our babies," says Stephanie.
"It's scary to think about babies dying. You expect to bury your parents, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles when they get older. You don't expect to bury children, or a baby," says Kelly Leigh, a Mother who also suffered pregnancy loss near 37 weeks.
Parents say they've lost their babies but not their place in their family.
"We celebrate each month, each 18th of the month, we visit his grave and we let balloons go," says Stephanie.
Mothers say siblings are especially affected.
"He talks about what's going to happen when he gets to heaven, and when him and his brother meet their big brother for the first time," says Kelly.
Now they turn to each other for support.
"I try to talk to any dad that comes to "Labor of Love" and anybody I can reach out to. I'm always there for support," says Blake Nalley, the father who suffered the pregnancy loss with his wife, Stephanie.
Parents say little things like wearing bracelets with Bentley and Aydan's name even helps.
"It brings tears to my eyes because that might seem small, but that's all I have. I don't get to get smiles and pictures and his opening his first Christmas, his first birthday gifts, I get to see what people do to honor my son," says Stephanie.
"The day that I saw Landon and Kyler, I knew that although I've experienced the greatest loss every imaginable, I was going to be okay; that they were my rainbow babies. They brightened my whole entire world and they still do," shares Kelly.
The calm after the storm, they say, that never let's you forget the babies who will always be your children.
In memory of pregnancies lost, anyone across the world is invited to light a candle at 7pm October 15 to create a "wave of light."
A group of more than 50 gathered at the Hagerstown Fairgrounds to share their stories.
To follow Stephanie and Blake's story, or find resources on support groups, you can visit their blog.
More information can be found on this website.
