If you know me personally or have read some of my posts here and here, then you know I faced a devastating loss seven years ago. It was my first pregnancy and we were expecting a sweet baby girl whom we named Payton. Our lives were completely changed at 39 weeks during delivery. Our daughter was stillborn and I was left heartbroken and completely lost.
Through out my grief I was blessed to share her story, give a hug to another mom who was hurting too, organize fundraisers, events, and raise awareness in our community about Pregnancy and Infant Loss. Yet, still there were times when people heard our story and they were still puzzled about “stillbirth”.
Over the years I have shared in various ways one being this blog. I have talked to many other women who have also loss a baby. There were times in my grief when I didn’t know how to be normal and just live. There were times I felt I didn’t relate to another mom who had lost a baby who was here with her. One of the most challenging and emotional battles I dealt with was her death certificate but she couldn’t have a birth certificate. She did not take her first breath outside the womb so she could not be issued a birth certificate. I understood but the raw emotions wanted her life to be recognized. All nine months of her life. I have shared of the struggles and the joys of our loss for myself and my marriage. I have shared the struggles and the joys of my subsequent pregnancies and the emotions that overwhelmed me when I was blessed with two healthy babies following our loss. Tonight I want to share about Return To Zero.
RETURN TO ZERO is a drama, based on a true story, about a successful couple, Maggie and Aaron Royal, who are preparing for the arrival of their first child, a son. Just weeks before their due date they are devastated to discover that their baby has died in the womb and will be stillborn.
While this film is intended for a wide-release to audiences regardless of their life experience, RETURN TO ZERO fills a particular niche for a market that has gone unserved — those who have or know someone who has experienced the devastating loss of stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death.
The statistics on stillbirth, which is the loss of a child after 20th week of pregnancy, are remarkable. In the U.S. alone there are approximately 36,000 stillbirths a year. That is equivalent to the amount of people who die in traffic accidents across this country every year. Yet, this topic has never been the central theme of a feature film.
The impact that one stillbirth has on the mother, the father, their family, and friends is devastating — a shock-wave of pain, guilt and then, too often, silence. The majority of those affected, especially the mothers, suffer in this silence often believing that their grief and trauma is theirs to bear alone.
While planning to entertain and enlighten all audiences with a dramatic tale of the strength and resilience of the human spirit, RETURN TO ZERO intends to break through the silence and become a beacon of cinematic light to the millions in search of answers, understanding and healing.
Although, all of our stories have different details of the journey, in the end we all have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. We are all hurting and have to face the motions of grief after our loss.
Thank you for reading this long but so dear to my heart story. Here’s where I need your help. I am a local leader for Return to Zero and I have pledged to see this film when it comes out. Will you please pledge with me? It’s completely free.
Just click here and fill out the form and put my name in the Who is your local leader spot. At the end of the day all you have to do is go see the movie. This film will help raise a ton of awareness on stillbirth.
Thank you again for always listening to my story.
Much Love,
My heart goes out to you… I have just lost my 30yr old baby suddenly… blood clot to her lungs from a sprained ankle… 5/1 dr scheduled an mri for the next week… she passed 5/5/13… no matter how long, the imprint is permanent! God bless you!!
♥Tess
Oh Tess, I am so sorry for your loss! My heart aches for you. No matter what age our children are a loss is a loss. Praying for your comfort, healing, and peace. I am honored you shared with me.
Angie, when is the movie supposed to come out and where will it be shown?
Thanks, Diane
Diane, I am so sorry I swear I replied to this but I may have been dreaming I did. We don’t know yet when it will be shown. they are in the works of getting the movie world to take it on. Thank you for your support!
we also lost our first born….a girl as well. Aicha Kathryn….lived 34 minutes in the delivery room. I will forever be your sister in loss & bereavement. Very excited for the movie I am a local leader in NEW YORK.
Oh Melanie., Thank you so much for sharing with me. I am so honored that you shared about Aicha Kathryn and her beautiful life with me. There is such a bond we have when we lose a baby and I will always think of you . Excited that your a local leader in New York. On another note I have always wanted to go to New York! Hugs!