My daughter Hannah turned 13 on January 3rd. (For those of you who aren't familiar with my background, I had Hannah alone back in university, and raised her alone until she was nearly ten - when I met DH. He's been the best father I could have wished for her. We've wanted so badly to give her a sibling; she was a huge part of our pregnancy and as devastated as us by the loss.)
So, when Hannah turned 13 she was finally allowed to have the Facebook account she's wanted for so long. Of course we insisted that she abide by the strictest privacy rules, and add us as friends so we can keep an eye on things. I strongly believe in allowing her freedom and privacy, but I also have a responsibility to know what she's up to.
Last week I was browsing her page and read a conversation between her and an old friend who we've sort of lost touch with the last few years. The two of them were commenting back and forth under her status, catching up. Hannah mentioned a few things about traveling and school - then said:
"My first sibling died in May."
(April, actually)
I choked. Reading that just broke my heart. The way she said it so plainly was just so sad. She knows we can talk about, and she has, but I also know she's talked with her friends about it (I found an "I'm sorry for your loss" card, hand drawn, from a classmate/friend in her room a while back). She's wanted a little brother or sister for so long, and will now be al least 14 years older than any one she gets.
I haven't been able to stop thinking about how she worded it.
Re: "My first sibling died in May."
<a href="http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/guppyamy/?action=view
TTC#1 since May 2009
PCOS * Hypothyroid
Bean - BFP May 26, 2010. EDD Feb 3, 2011. Natural Miscarriage 8w5d - June 29, 2010.
Pumpkin - BFP Feb 8, 2011. EDD Oct 21, 2011. Natural Miscarriage 6w3d - Feb 28, 2011.
May 2015: IUI#2 - nada.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle!
April 2011 CP @ 5 weeks
I am sorry. It does sound like your daughers freinds are being very supportive of her. Hugs Hugs to you.
Jenn
IVF#1 BFN IVF#2 BFP, loss at 19 weeks FET#1 BFN IVF#3 BFP, m/c FET#2 BFN
Missing our twins Zachary and Madison, lost at 19 weeks on 11/13/09, edd 4/9/10
BFP 7/17/10, m/c 7/25/10, edd 3/25/11
Ectopic, lost left tube 4/20/11, edd 12/6/11
my blog
BFP 12/18/2009. HB 1/4/2010. NO HB 1/18/2010. D&C 1/19/2010
April 2011 IUI #1 BFN. High FSH and other issues.
May 2011 Chose to build our family through adoption
September 2011 Actively waiting for a match
11/26/11 Surprise BFP * DD born 7/23/12
That is so sad.
Big hugs to you and Hannah! That's so sweet and sad.
Dx: MFI- 3% morph
IUIs: Gonal-F + Ovidrel + b2b IUI= BFNs
IVF with ICSI= BFP! EDD 11/25/11
3/18- Beta #1 452! 3/20- Beta #2 1,026!! 3/27- First u/s- TWINS!
Our twin boys arrived at 36w5d due to IUGR and a growth discordance
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
(((hugs))) I imagine that must have been so hard to read. It is so sweet that she felt that connected to the baby. My heart aches for you both.
BFP #3 via cancelled IUI ~ C (2lb 3oz; HELLP) 5/16/11
BFP #4 via the natural (free!) way ~ E (8lb 11oz) 9/13/12
I'm so sorry. Your daughter has a really, really wonderful friend, though, to have made her a card like that. I know a lot of adults who could learn a thing or two from your daughter and her friend.
::::::::big hugs::::::::