After my mother passed away in 1982, I found the Mother’s Day advertising on TV to be a painful reminder that I no longer had a mom to give a gift. Now with email, the reminders show up in my In Box on a daily basis. It seems that stores and nonprofits – including Dignity:Liberia - all have a Mothers’ Day message. As painful as such messages used to be for me, I doubt it compares to that of a mother who has lost a child.
Most fistula survivors with whom I spoke have suffered stillbirth. They carried their baby to term only to lose the child following a prolonged labor with questionable assistance from a birth attendant with no medical training.
A few years ago, people started wishing all women a happy Mother’s Day. I felt that took away from all the moms who had gone through the highs and lows of raising a child. I thought mothers deserved a special day of their own. I’ve since reconsidered. I have no children, yet many wonderful children have been in my life: nieces, nephews, children at church, and a number of first and second graders to whom I’ve been a reading buddy. I imagine the children just want to show love and appreciation to those women who have assisted them along life’s journey.
We invite you to comment on this Facebook post with a picture of that special “mom” in your life – whether she’s your mother, daughter, or some other relation (or no relation) to you. Tell us why she’s special.
We also ask that you make a donation to the construction of our maternity waiting home, House of Hope and Dignity, so that instead of a painful reminder, rural women in Liberia will have a joyful celebration of a special relationship on Mother’s Day.
Most fistula survivors with whom I spoke have suffered stillbirth. They carried their baby to term only to lose the child following a prolonged labor with questionable assistance from a birth attendant with no medical training.
A few years ago, people started wishing all women a happy Mother’s Day. I felt that took away from all the moms who had gone through the highs and lows of raising a child. I thought mothers deserved a special day of their own. I’ve since reconsidered. I have no children, yet many wonderful children have been in my life: nieces, nephews, children at church, and a number of first and second graders to whom I’ve been a reading buddy. I imagine the children just want to show love and appreciation to those women who have assisted them along life’s journey.
We invite you to comment on this Facebook post with a picture of that special “mom” in your life – whether she’s your mother, daughter, or some other relation (or no relation) to you. Tell us why she’s special.
We also ask that you make a donation to the construction of our maternity waiting home, House of Hope and Dignity, so that instead of a painful reminder, rural women in Liberia will have a joyful celebration of a special relationship on Mother’s Day.
Kathy Beth Stavinoha
Kathy Beth lives and works in Austin, TX. She graduated from high school in Monrovia, Liberia in 1977.
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