Walking to Remember

If you've had any sort of conversation with me in the last few months, the topic of Matt, Liz, and Madeline Logelin has come up.

Who are these people? Do I know them? Are they neighbors? I have never met them..But, their story touched my heart.. Matt & Liz are Minnesota natives, and Madeline is their baby that was born on March 24th, 2008. I won't go into the details but long story short, Liz was in the hospital on bedrest (low amniotic fluid, cord was around baby's neck) for quite some time (2 weeks at home, 3 in the hospital). Read story here..

Happy ending, right?

Wrong...

March 25th the morning after the baby was born, the nurse came to bring Liz to meet her daughter for the first time... Liz stood up, commented on being lightheaded, and passed out. Doctors and nurses rushed to help her, but nothing could be done - she had died from a pulmonary embolism... She never got to hold her baby...Read the story here..

Can you even imagine? How does a husband and new father deal with the death of his wife while caring for not only a newborn..but, also a preemie? I think that most of the reason I feel such a connection with this story is that it reminds so much of my friend, Beth's story..Beth also died during childbirth..

Matt has blogged about his experience from day one... The posts are raw and unedited - he leaves nothing out. The birth of his daughter is bittersweet - it's something Matt & his wife had dreamed about, but now she's not here to share in the joy of raising a child... The blog is definitely worth checking out... A little heads up, there is some explicit language used... like I said, it's raw & unedited.. You will most likely cry ..a lot... But you will also be uplifted and laugh..

Matt has a captivated audience that stretches not only across the US, but across the world from Europe to Asia. He already had tremendous support system from family/friends.. but now he has a sea of readers that are praying for him & encouraging him... Truly is powerful...but, isn't that what life is all about..helping each other..

An informal Memorial 5k Walk/Run was organized for Sunday, September 21st (Liz's bday would have been Sept 17). Everyone who follows the blog is encouraged to walk at 1 pm in their respective time zones in memory of Liz. You can just walk, or you can also donate $7 that will help Matt/Madeline and other young widows/widowers in similar situations (7 was Liz's lucky/favorite number). Or, you can do both..donate and walk..which is what I did..

Lucy, Katie, and me all walked in Liz's memory today..We all had on our shirts from his website..and we walked..We walked mother to mother..parent to parent..and stranger friend to stranger friend...It was a good day..and I felt especially blest that at the end..I got to kiss my husband..and hug my kids..

If there is one thing that I have learned from Matt..it is tomorrow is always uncertain, so why not make the best of today?






(Pictures are from Matt's website..)