Hope, a four letter word that packs a powerful punch. People often asked me how I got through the trauma of losing Larissa. Initially, I always believed I had no choice, but looking back, I did have a choice. I could have succumbed to my grief, refusing to look toward the future and staying in that horrific cycle of grief and despair. However, it was hope that gave me the courage to move on. Hope, that one day we would have another little blessing in our lives. Hope, that one day we would find a new normal. Hope, that one day our house would no longer be so quiet, but rather, filled with the cries of a newborn and later the sound of pitter-patter of little feet.
Without hope, I would have given up on the idea of becoming pregnant again and bringing home a healthy newborn. Believe me, it was easy to lose any hope, especially since we struggled to get pregnant again and everyone around me was giving birth to perfectly healthy babies. Once pregnancy was achieved, there was a huge part of me that felt I wouldn't really be bringing home a child, but it was hope that we would that kept me focused on a happy outcome. So, without hope I wouldn't be sitting here typing this while my almost 18 month old sleeps by my side. Nor would I be relishing in my expectant child's movements inside of me. Hope is what enabled us to welcome Ambree and it is hope that enabled us to be expecting another bundle of joy. It is that same hope that I cling to, that keeps me going during this current pregnancy, refusing to succumb to my past traumas and hoping that all will be well this time around.
I recently received an email from a very inspiring lady, named Heather, who came upon my blog and wanted to share her story of hope. She was diagnosed with cancer when her daughter was just 3 and a half months old and given 15 months to live. She refused to accept those odds, knowing she had to be around to raise her daughter and held onto hope that she would survive. Our minds are a powerful thing...Heather is 7 years post her devastating diagnoses and shares her story on the following link:
http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/
Her story of hope is truly inspiring. I hope each reader takes a moment to check out her link and are inspired by her journey.
Anyone whom has experienced a traumatic event knows that devastating news is life altering and it's easy to give up hope. Heather mentioned in a email to me that her hope made her battle easier. My hope made my dreams of a family come true, so no matter where you are in your journey, don't lose hope. None of us can predict the future, but we can envision how we would like our lives to be. Envision a brighter future and hold onto that hope, even if it's just a little bit you feel right now...
