Kelly O'Shaughnessy (47), Kieran (7), and Flynn (3)
Kelly is a previous project participant. You can view her previous photo and story from 2014 here.
Kelly shares -
“I miscarried four times. Once before Kieran and three times after. At the appointment the 4th time I saw a different OB from the one I regularly saw. She looked at my chart and then looked at my husband and I and said "you're in the wrong office and you're running out of time." I knew immediately what she meant. We left and made our first appointment to explore IVF. We were quite fortunate that Flynn was born about a year and a half later, after our first round of IVF.
My body is not my own, and I'm okay with that. It is a huge adjustment, mothers sacrifice so much of themselves and their bodies. Before growing people my body was just a vessel, but now it's super human. I've breastfed a total of six years and am still going. I co-sleep and snuggle all the time, am touched, pulled on and jumped on all day by little humans. This body made people and it kicks ass!
Nothing prepares you for motherhood. It is demanding, exhausting emotionally and physically but absolutely worth every minute. Yes, your body changes, your entire being changes and there is a huge learning curve. But you figure it out and make mistakes along the way and that's okay. As an older mother it is sometimes isolating, especially after leaving a career and then being a full time mom. But I know how lucky I am to have these two little people and wouldn't change a thing.
I'm here today because I wanted to thank, Ashlee. When I participated the first time, after we did the interview part, she looked me straight in the eye and said "I'm sorry for your loss." I could tell she meant it, that she got it, that she knew how I felt. It was very cathartic and healing for me. I try to be present in the same way she was to me, to other moms of loss. To give them space to share, to let them know I get it and they are not alone. So thank you Ashlee, for all you do and for being the voice that so many moms need to hear.”