Mindy Raelynne Danison is in her late 20's, when she and her husband Gabe decide that they want to grow their family. The young woman gets pregnant quickly. The pair is overjoyed and full of anticipation. Riley Jae Danison is the name of their soon-to-be sixth child.
However, after just 10 weeks of joyful anticipation their new son, something terrible happens: As Mindy is out shopping with her mother, she suddenly feels a painful blow in her gut. Unfortunately, Riley is a miscarriage. At 7.5 weeks old, he dies in the womb. Mindy and her husband mourn the lost child and decide to do something quite unusual: they want to photograph their baby.
A new pregnancy puts an end to Mindy's sadness. Baby Annabelle Elizabeth (the baby-in-waiting) however, was lost at just eight weeks and is born in a bathroom at a gas station. Mindy takes her dead baby home and takes photographs of the foetus as a keepsake of her daughter.
Mindy is harshly criticized in public for her decision. Many find the photos disturbing and accuse the young mother of going too far. For Mindy though, these photos are her way of dealing with the grief. Her children, in her eyes, are perfect and already the joy of their lives even before they being fully developed. Friends and relatives and even some strangers are impressed by the photos. "So precious", writes one Facebook user.
And this is what Mindy had hoped for these public photos - sympathy and understanding. All too often early miscarriages are downplayed and the mourning parents have the feeling of not being taken seriously. "Then just try again," is a common piece of advice. But although Mindy's babies were still so young, the Danison family were already delighted and loved them. Riley and Annabelle were cremated and their ashes these small sculptures are today mementos in the Danison household.
Today, Mindy pregnant again and already in her 24th week of pregnancy. This time, she is even expecting twins, who will be named Gloriana and Garrett. Despite the hostility, Mindy refuses to delete the photos of her babies on Facebook even though users constantly report the picture as "not appropriate content." All of her attention is on her pregnancy and her children.
Photos of stillborn babies can often comfort the parents, even when it's unusual to see such an early photograph. In America, there is even an organization, where parents who are confronted with such a terrible ordeal are offered free professional photos. Publishing the photos publicly can also help some parents, as they receive encouragement and sympathy, where for others this idea is inconceivable and the photos are private.
This brave woman took an unusual path to deal with her grief. If you agree that everyone has the right to grieve however he or she wants, then SHARE this article with everyone that you know!
