I was so happy when I received an email from an amazing friend, allowing me to feature her here and share her story. I should not have been surprised though. She knew that her story may help others, inspire them to keep going and give them a reason to get out of bed each day, and for that, she wanted to share. To say that she is strong and has handled herself with grace through all that she has endured is an understatement.
Cathi was pregnant with triplets not long after I was and, as she began to experience serious complications, I hovered over my computer waiting for each and every update, hoping for good news. Sadly Raiden, the first of her triplets, was stillborn at 22 weeks gestation. Cathi and her surviving babies held on for four more weeks and at 26 weeks gestation, her daughter Gwyn and son Ryker were born. I was devastated to follow Cathi's journey as she then lost Ryker when he was 10 days old and Gwyn when she was 18 days old. Still reeling over the loss of my own daughter, I remember hearing of the passing of each of her children and thinking that losing three babies was unfathomable. The more I grasped for the words to support Cathi, the more I became inspired by the strength with which she carried herself through one devastating loss after another.
Cathi and her husband had several frozen embryos left after their IVF cycle with the triplets so she gathered her courage and decided to try once again. After a successful frozen embryo transfer and another very high risk pregnancy, Cathi now has a beautiful one year-old little girl, Megyn. Honestly, I don't know where Cathi finds the strength and courage to face life with the brave face that she does but I know that all of us who have been touched by her story are better for what we have learned from her bravery.
I admire Cathi more than words can express and know that there are days that I am still standing because of the inspiration I get from women like her.
So meet Cathi, survivor of the infertility struggle, mom to four babies, three of whom she carries in her heart, and STILL STANDING.
Cathi's post about her family: Years Fly By
(if you have a minute you have to look around her blog, the professional photographs she has of Megyn are breathtaking)
My favorite post from Cathi... so sad but her strength shines through: 2 Years
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