Don’t Waste Your Pain…
I’ve been thinking about gratitude a lot lately and have been putting effort into being more conscious of the terrific things in my life. In light of that, I’ve thought a bit about the expression “Don’t waste your pain.”
So, here are the good things that have come about because of Paul’s death:
- This past spring, hubby and I raised $5,000 between us for the March of Dimes by doing their WalkAmerica fundraiser.
- This past summer, I was able to donate over 70 knitted baby hats of various sizes and colors to the Intensive Care Nursery at UCSF, all of which were inspired by Paul and how we didn’t have a “boy” hat that fit him correctly.
- We have made some great friends via the SAND meetings — David & Heather, Mark & Gabriele, and Suzanne. They have said that we’ve been an encouragement and sort of role models for them b/c we are further down the grief road than they are, and we have survived.
- I have done some knitting (but never enough!) for The Preemie Project, an organization which makes “Bonnets, Booties, and Blankets” for babies in the NICU.
- Hubby and I were able to speak last month on a panel of bereaved parents at a nursing conference for high-risk OB nurses and neonatal nurses.
- I have made at least one online friend who has gone through a somewhat similar experience, and she’s a real kick (and an inspiration in another area).
- THIS story just got published.
