Kellan's Hope

08/06/2021

07/13/2021

There’s always a story within a story, right?

Our very own, Chanté Day Velez, is the featured Guest Writer for Gathering Hope’s July blog post and monthly newsletter. The next blog post for Girlfriends, Coffee, & Jesus will correlate with the words of encouragement she shared within her story featured below 👇🏽.

Click the link to learn how Chanté survived what many of us term as the “unsurvivable” - the loss of her first child, Kellan, and to see how God stayed true to His promises during (and after) such a devastating loss.

Regardless of the life trial some of us may be currently enduring, or may endure in the future, there is always a message of hope within each one of our testimonies. Chanté’s testimony is just one out of many that shows us that! 💕

We've gathered 12 guest writers to add HOPE to your inbox in 2021! We're honored to have Chante Day Velez as our featured writer this month.

07/13/2021

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“Sometimes, hope hurts, but most times, if hope is placed in the right place, oh how it heals.” -Chanté Day Velez

Meet Chanté! It’s an honor to share her story and to welcome her as our guest writer this month! Head over to GatheringHope.org to read her powerful message.

Chanté is the founder of Kellan’s Hope, a nonprofit in Greenville, SC that was created after the loss of her son. Kellan’s Hope works closely with pregnant mothers and families who are expecting their pregnancies to result in infant loss, by covering final costs of inurnment or interment. They also help plan a beautiful memorial services for babies, alleviating stress and allowing time for families to focus on their grieving process, without the worry of planning and financial strain.

07/13/2021

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“Sometimes, hope hurts, but most times, if hope is placed in the right place, oh how it heals.” -Chanté Day Velez

Meet Chanté! It’s an honor to share her story and to welcome her as our guest writer this month!

Chanté is the founder of Kellan’s Hope, a nonprofit in Greenville, SC that was created after the loss of her son. Kellan’s Hope works closely with pregnant mothers and families who are expecting their pregnancies to result in infant loss, by covering final costs of inurnment or interment. They also help plan a beautiful memorial services for babies, alleviating stress and allowing time for families to focus on their grieving process, without the worry of planning and financial strain.

Are you on our email list? Tomorrow morning you’ll receive HOPE sent right to your inbox! Add yourself to the list at GatheringHope.org and don’t miss any of the encouragement we’re sending your way, Mama. 💜

07/02/2021

Throughout the month of July, we will be holding a raffle to help raise awareness for Bereaved Parent Awareness Month. We will hold the raffle on Sunday, August 1, 2021, and will be giving a random winner a $200.00 cash prize.

The rules are simple. Simply like, share, and comment “done” after doing so. It is asked that when you share the post that you add to your post the one of the following:

Option A: “I’m helping to raise awareness for (insert bereaved parent’s name) in honor of Bereaved Parent Awareness Month because life after the loss of a child, although drastically changed, does not stop. In honor of what this month represents to them, I will speak their child’s name: (insert child’s name). “

Option B (if you don’t know a bereaved parent): “I’m helping to raise awareness for the bereaved parenthood community in honor of Bereaved Parent Awareness Month because life after the loss of child, although drastically changed, does not stop.”

Option C (if you are a bereaved parent): “I’m helping to raise awareness for myself, and all other bereaved parents, who are on this endless journey alongside me, in honor of Bereaved Parent Awareness Month.”

As always, thank you for helping us help others. 💕

07/02/2021

July is Internationally known as Bereaved Parent Awareness Month.

Throughout the month of July, we ask you all to join us in advocating for life after the loss of a child and raising awareness for the bereaved parent community.

It’s important to know that as bereaved parents…

… we’re still normal. Our loss did not define us, it redefined us.

… we know that our children are gone, but we still want, and like, to talk about them, ask us questions. Say our children’s names…

… we need people to acknowledge our grief, because truthfully speaking, grief goes almost unnoticed by the general public…

… remember that our paths are just that, ours. Although this community has one overall common factor: the loss a child, remember that every step on this journey is uniquely, and individually, our own; No two losses are alike.

… be gracious towards us, it’s not easy walking around with a bleeding heart…

… Lastly… remember that we don’t want your pity. We are brave enough to share our loss so openly because sometimes, sharing the stories before and behind the loss of our children is the only thing that makes them feel “alive” to us again.

07/01/2021

We see you.

We see that your heart is broken.
We see the pain in your eyes.
We see the emptiness of your arms.
We see your struggle.
We see your lost.

We see you.
All of you that are bereaved parents. That lost their precious children.

We see the shame and fear that surrounds grief and like you so badly want to remove it.

We also see the people that haven’t suffered from this loss. We see the friends and family that don’t know how to help. We see that you don’t know what to say.

July is Bereaved Parents Month and it’s a way to help spread awareness and let bereaved parents talk about their lost children. But the goal with creating this month wasn’t to allow them to grieve their child and share their story for just the 31 days of July.

Bereaved parents are suffering and missing their child 365 days a year and this month is to get people talking about this kind of loss.

We encourage you to be kind this month and to remember all the bereaved parents but also to try to integrate what you learn from this month into your every day awareness.

People think they can’t make a difference in other people’s lives. They think that they are going to remind them of what they lost. Make them sadder than they already are. But that’s not the case.

Not remembering our child is what causes pain. Not saying their name is what breaks our heart.

Here are some things you can do to support your loved one, this month and every month.

- Say their child’s name. Seeing their child being remembered and their child being put into existence is the biggest way to support them.
- Check in with them and ask them if they need anything.
- Perform an act of kindness in honor of their child.
- Do an awareness walk with them.
- Always be kind. Always be love.
- And above all, say “I see you. I see your child existed and I will walk this path with you hand in hand and with an open heart”.

❤️Sending love and positive energy

10/02/2020

October has arrived and is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month!👼

If you or someone you care about has lost a child to stillbirth, miscarriage, SIDS, or any other cause at any point during pregnancy or infancy, please join us in raising awareness this October for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Every adult purchase of our pregnant and infant loss shirts a $3 donation will be donated to help families with their loss through "The Still Remembered Project"🥰

Each shirt is $25 with free shipping!🎁
$2 extra for any and all personalization 😍

You can order with me or my Etsy! Whichever is most comfortable to you ♥️
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ABlessingInTies

I love helping people especially with this cause as I know it's a lot on someone and their loved ones♥️

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10/01/2020

09/27/2020

Are you a SURVIVOR?

Hey, Mama.

You’re right. We said Mama. Sometimes (ok, most of the time), when you’ve survived miscarriage or infant loss, it’s hard for others to recognize you as a mother.

You can be part of a movement that is changing the conversation. We want to honor your motherhood with you, whether you carried your baby for six weeks or 40 weeks. No matter if your baby lived a few hours, or never took a breath before you had the chance to say hello.

We also want to honor the life of your baby. A precious soul, maybe only known by you and Jesus, knit together in your womb. Come remember them alongside other women who understand your journey, this coming Saturday, October 3rd at 4pm CST.

✨GATHERING 2020: IN THE WAITING✨

Gathering Hope is a growing movement, providing a safe haven for mothers who have survived miscarriage and infant loss, empowering them to both grieve and celebrate their babies together.

In a typical year, we’d host our annual, in-person Gatherings in Oklahoma & Texas, along with plans for a new site this year, in Delaware.

We all know this hasn’t been a typical year and we aren’t doing typical things.

This year, we’re going virtual, meaning that grieving moms from around the globe (35 states and 5 countries, so far!!) can gather in one spot, online. Whether you’re in your yoga pants, with a cup of coffee and a comfy blanket, whether you’re watching from the couch or your home office, we welcome you.

While we have filled all of our full-access ticketed spots for this year's Gathering, we couldn't help but think there's even more moms who need community, comfort, support and solidarity. So, this year we're offering a FREE LIVESTREAM on Facebook Live for Session 1 of Gathering 2020, which includes live worship and two encouraging speakers, Heather Butler and Tanika Dillard.

Will you join us? Get connected here: https://www.gatheringhope.net/gathering-2020-update.

See you soon, Mama.💜

07/01/2020

This weeks writing prompt is below.

“What would you like other people to know and/or do after someone loses a child?”