It’s April 1st—no fooling. I have never been one for practical jokes on April Fool’s Day although I know a lot of people who plot and plan and execute brilliant schemes. I am not crafty enough for that and I would much rather celebrate the first of April by revealing the results of our Comments for a Cause for March and revealing the new Comments for a Cause for April.
This past month we have been supporting Samantha Scott as she will be joining a host of others on April 19 as they Walk to End Lupus Now in Raleigh, NC. You may recall that Sam and her husband Cory are good friends of our son, Aaron, and I even got to help at their beautiful wedding last fall. The post that explains more about her fundraising is here. Sam has been diagnosed with lupus which is one of those mysterious diseases with a lot of different symptoms –none of which are fun. Sam and Cory and a lot of their family and friends will be walking. The fundraising still continues and you can make a donation directly if you would like to by going to this link. How would you not want to help this adorable couple? I am thrilled to announce that Chris and I will be making a donation of $350 to Sam’s personal fundraising to help her reach her goal of $1000. She is still a little short of that goal as I type this so I hope some of my wonderful followers will hop over to pledge $5 to help her reach her goal. She is an amazing young woman and I am privileged to be in their circle of friends.
And now on to the new cause for April. Every month I ponder what will be a great new cause and generally one just kind of presents itself to me. Sometimes it is because of something I read or see on the news. Sometimes it is as a result of a friendship that gives me insight into a need or a good cause that I did not know about before. Sometimes a tragedy or disaster catches my attention.
This month one of my dear friends suffered an inconceivable loss. The loss of a child. The death of a child has to be one of the worst things imaginable and in this case the little boy was born before viability. To express my sympathy in words seems inadequate. There are no words that can ease the hole in the hearts of these parents and their loved ones.
What I did find out was that there is a local foundation through the hospital, Mercy Foundation, which serves as a tool in our community to offer assistance in various ways to those who are suffering loss.
Mercy Foundation was established in 1993 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation generates resources and philanthropic funds to strengthen the mission of Mercy – North Iowa to continue the healing ministry of the Church and to promote the well being of people in our communities.
The Foundation offers philanthropic opportunities for individuals, corporations, and foundations that wish to make gifts and grants to Mercy – North Iowa. Whether it is through unrestricted contributions or restricted gifts for specific departments or programs, all charitable contributions help Mercy continue to serve the community.
When I called to get more information about what my specific donation would do Jill told me that a donation to the Mercy Foundation Birth Center helps in a variety of ways. Fundraising in the past has included a cookbook that was for sale to help with expenses for an annual service which is held yearly on October 15 which is the National Day of Remembrance. This is a time when all the parents and loved ones of babies that were born before viability can spend some time remembering their precious child and feel the support of those who cared for them and that baby. The service is normally held at a local funeral home and the families receive keepsakes which serve as reminders of that precious child. The staff also uses the funds raised through gifts and donations for training and bereavement materials.
My heart is full of love for these parents and for the loss that they have suffered. Their little boy will always be a part of their lives and even though his life was cut short he will always be an important part of their family. During April for every comment made on any post on It’s Just Life Chris and I will donate 50 cents to the Mercy Foundation Birth Center in memory of this sweet little boy. Please join me this month and comment often. Share any post with friends and get more comments going. I try to respond to every comment as quickly as possible. I appreciate each and every one that is made.
Thank you for being the wonderful people that you are and for embracing the Comments for a Cause.
51 Comments
Leave a commentwhat a great cause!
Thanks, Hilary!!! This is very close to my heart right now and I am happy to be able to support my friend this way.
Another great cause! Love you!
Love you back! Thanks for stopping by!
Yes, this is a great cause. Many couples’ dream of having a child is painfully shattered either when a miscarriage occurs (as I had), or with a baby who’s carried longer, but is still lost. It’s heartbreaking either way.
Good for you, supporting all these wonderful causes, Beth Ann!
Thank you Dianna. The heartbreak of this happening has to be enormous and I am finding out how many couples have been affected by it as I support this cause. Anything that can be done to help ease the pain and grief is a good step, don’t you think? I am very sorry for your loss as well. Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve never been a fan of April fools jokes. This is a fantastic cause. 🙂
Thank you Beth Ann. I don’t even have the words. This means more to me than you will ever know.
I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it and name names because it is so fresh and painful but I hoped you would see it. Love you. Lots.
To lose a baby would be heartbreaking…I remember some 20 years ago attending the funeral of a stillborn baby girl, the daughter of dear friends. Grief ran deep. My sympathies to your friends.
Thank you for embracing these families with this months Comments for a Cause.
And thank you for always being faithful in reading and commenting and just being a great friend. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers over the next few as well.
Love this!!
Thanks, Katy!
A wonderful cause, Beth Ann! It must be of some comfort to have a support network like this in the wake of such a sad experience.
Thanks, Jackie. They have a wonderful network of family and friends and I know that they will be able to work through it all but it is just tough. Really tough. Thank you for stopping by.
I’m truly sorry for their loss. I don’t have words. What a wonderful gift you give them through this.
Thank you, Gibber. It is heart wrenching but I feel like it is imprint to honor them by doing this and I appreciate all the comments.
Thanks for all you do to support great organizations and raising awareness.
Thanks, Mary. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment. It means the world to me and to our causes.
I’ve never met her and still can’t comprehend the sense of loss they’re experiencing. I am almost exactly as far along as she was. What a wonderful cause and thoughtful post.
Xo!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Jessica. It is overwhelming to me to think about losing a child at any age . But for you I can imagine this wold hit home a bit closer. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. It means a lot.
Such a great cause Beth Ann. Your heart is BIG.
Thanks for stopping by, Pix. This one is pretty important to me as you can tell.
Such a sad reason for such an amazing cause! I’m sure it helps all those who lost a precious baby too soon in some way. xoxo
Thank you, Suzi. I am so glad that this is being so well received. I just can’t stop thinking about them and how sad this is for the family.
[…] this month (along with Beth Ann of It’s Just Life) I will be donating 50 cents to the Mercy Foundation Birth Center in memory of Baby D and his […]
Wonderful thing you are doing! The hospital has a wonderful bereavement team and the October service is an event very close to the hearts of those who plan it, as well as the families that attend. My heartfelt thoughts are with this couple daily!!
Ashley—thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. I am learning more and more about the wonderful services that the hospital offers to grieving families as well as to others who receive different services from them. I am so glad there are things like this to help folks who have experienced such a huge loss.
Thank you kindly for doing this. You are a blessing just as Baby David and his parents are. We love them all dearly and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Thank you so much Brooke, for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I know that we are all lifting them up and loving them through this most difficult time and it is wonderful to see so many of their friends taking time to comment. I didn’t talk to her before I did this because I wanted to respect their privacy so I am glad it is being so well received. Makes me smile. Thanks again.
What a heartfelt, wonderful way to support families, and friends.
Thanks for stopping by, Teresa. I am so glad you took the time to leave a comment. Come back anytime!
What a beautiful cause. This makes me smile 🙂 and I’m so happy to help!
Thanks, Val! I love your cause this month as well!
Thank you so much for bringing attention to this cause and supporting Mary. I also have a friend that is a nurse in the birth center and she has told me how special their October 15 remembrance day is to the families and staff there.
Jamie, Thank you SO much for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment. I love how everyone has such positive things to say about this program and about what the foundation does Thank you from the bottom of my heart for stopping by. Come back anytime to see what is going on and leave a comment. It all counts.
Thanks for supporting these causes!
Of course! Best thing I do on my blog IMHO.
[…] so grateful to see that two of my friends are doing the same for the month of April. Beth Ann of It’s Just Life-Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary and Katy Flint of Learning As I Go . They both are donating $.50 for every comment on their blog. […]
I can not think what I wold d if I had lost one of my four children.This is a good cause.
Thank you from Baby D’s grandma for the kind words and generous support!
Aw! Thanks for stopping by.happy to do this small thing.
Thank you, Beth (and the NIBloggers) for supporting Mary and all of your generosity. It’s phenomenal that you can support each other and the many causes that have touched your group members.
You are so welcome. She is so dear to us and it is a very small gesture but hopefully will honor sweet baby D.
We are so grateful for picking us for March’s Comments for a Cause! I love seeing your monthly organization! You are truly awesome!
What a wonderful service–great cause, Beth Ann.
Before reading your post, I was unaware of the Mercy Foundation Birth Center. Thanks for shedding light on this wonderful service as you honor Baby D’s parents.
I did not know about it either until recently so I am so happy to share the wonderful things that they do for grieving families. It really is a wonderful thing that they do, isn’t it?
[…] How about you? What has spiced up your week this week? Remember to comment for Mercy Foundation Birth Center. […]
[…] May 1st is here already and at It’s Just Life that means it is time to check out Comments for a Cause. This past month I chose Mercy Foundation Birth Center for my Comments for a Cause recipient because I have a very good friend who suffered a very difficult loss. To lose a child is something that no parent should have to endure and to lose one before it even has a chance to take a breath is beyond comprehension. Mercy Foundation Birth Center is available to these parents and they offer support and resources that mean a great deal to these grieving families. You can read more about it by clicking here. […]
What are great cause! What a nice blog.