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Friend Says “Of All People, You Should Get Why Someone Would Abort a Cleft Baby”—Dad’s Reply Is Perfect

"My ‘friend’ said, ‘Come on, of all people, you should get why someone would want to abort a cleft baby.’ That shocked me. Why would he think that?"

During a Kitchen Dance Party, Foster Mom Hears Heartfelt Words: ‘I Miss My Other Daddy’

"I felt the tug on my sleeve and looked down to find him standing motionless. His mouth was moving but I couldn’t make out his words. His quiet body in the noisy room caught me off guard. I bent down to find his voice."

“It’s Only a Matter of Time Before Chick-fil-A Serves Me a Restraining Order”: Mom Hilariously Relives Son’s ‘Diarrhea Debacle’ at Chick-fil-A

"Tears-pouring-down-my-face, couldn't-talk-couldn't-breathe kind of laughing. Screaming laughing. So hard that I was sobbing because I couldn't get it together."

Rachel Whalen

Rachel Whalen is a writer and Kindergarten teacher who lives in Vermont. She is the mother of two daughters; 2-year-old Frances and Dorothy who was stillborn in 2016. Since Dorothy's death, Rachel has used her writing to advocate for others who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. Her writing has been widely shared by Still Standing magazine, Pregnancy After Loss Support, the Today Show, and Her View From Home. In sharing her story, Rachel hopes that she can let others know they are not alone in their heartbreak and their love for their child. Connect with Rachel on Facebook, and see more of her writing on her blog.

I Had A Miscarriage & Yes, I Flushed

"My hands caught him before he hit the water. In my hands was my baby -- the size and shape of a small water balloon and the deepest shade of scarlet."

I Left the Hospital With a Box Instead of My Baby

"I resented that box. I wanted nothing to do with that box."

Our Babies Were Stillborn, But They Were Still Born

"The most heartbreaking validation comes from our bodies. Even when our babies stop living, the maternal instincts of the human body are strong. Our bodies are so committed to the existence of our babies that they continue on as if they were still alive."