The Saddest Part of the Year

This is a sad post.  So I'll begin with the happy background.  I stumbled upon a mommy group website/forum when my oldest was itty bitty.  It was part of googling a new parent in the middle of the night question. But through that, I've gotten to meet 2 great groups of women.  All going through the same challenges of parenthood that I'm going through.  Even now at 10.  It doesn't get easier.  I don't know why people tell each other that.

Anyways, back to the post.  In my younger mom's group, there was a woman who had to have her baby earlier.  Knowing that it wouldn't make it.  She's asked us to share her story.  A couple of the ladies got a fund going to help her and her family with medical expenses and funeral expenses.  I didn't have the money to contribute.  But I had other skills available.  My hoarding stash skills let me make her a baby quilt to honor her.  It was hard to make.  To me, it had to be just perfect.  This quilt was going to a little angel.  So I decided to do some applique and use the ribbon for trisomy 18 and the color.  And an elephant.  We all bonded together over this.  And somewhere(not really sure since I was only able to be there from my cell phone) someone came up with the trunk up idea.  They got it from elephants.  How they never leave the mourning momma elephant.  And stick by her side till she's done.  Which is perfect.  And always why I've loved elephants.  Really they are all over my house and the main theme of the nursery.

It came out perfect.  And luckily, the kids left me alone to let me do this.  It was hard.  To know that this quilt would either go in the casket or stay in the home for them to remember.  I paid to have it shipped overnight to ensure it got there in time.   But I hadn't heard from her.  I didn't want it to be a burden.  I mean, what do you really do in this situation.  Well, the Friday after the funeral, she sent me a message saying she had gotten it that day.  And that it brought her to tears.  And that she loved it so much and was very thankful.  Which then had me in tears. But I'm glad I was able to do it.  To me, it's more important than the money.  In a way.