Another Letter to the Editor!

In today's issue of the Santa Maria Times, they printed a letter that I wrote in regards to a past article on the issue of stillbirths. I have posted the letter here for those that would like to read my letter but do not have a copy of the Times.

End Silence on stillbirth

Thank you for your feature article on the issue of stillbirths. It was an informative article, and I only hope that many of your readers will take the issue to heart.

Losing a child through stillbirth is one of the hardest events in a person’s lifetime. Every parent should receive information on having an autopsy done, and should be given the right to having an autopsy.

The other day was the birthday of my beautiful little boy, Ikaika, who came into this world silently. While at Marian Medical Center, my nurse, Marilyn Propst – who was featured in Wednesday’s edition of the Times – gave me and my family excellent care. My family and I made the decision to have our son receive an autopsy, and we are so thankful that Marilyn and our doctors recommended this procedure to us. Our son came into this world with no voice, but the results of his autopsy proved to us that he had much to teach us all.

The article ended with a comment on what pregnant women who are pregnant again, after a stillbirth pregnancy, should say when they are asked if they have other children. Say what you feel most comfortable with. Do not hold back from discussing your silently born child out of respect to how other people might feel.

One of the reasons the issue of stillbirths are so taboo in this country is because parents who have experienced a stillbirth are made to feel like they did something wrong.

I made the promise to my son that I would be his voice. I will continue to speak about my son and what he had to teach us to as many people who are willing to listen.

Again thank you for printing an article on the issue of stillbirth and for opening the dialogue on a very upsetting fact of reality – that not all pregnancies end with a beautiful baby that comes home.