M.E.N.D. NW Washington Leadership Team

Stacy Mcghee - CHAPTER DIRECTOR

When my daughter, Sophia, was stillborn at 33 weeks, I never imagined how God would use her life to shape mine. It was the most devastating experience of my life. As I left the hospital that day with empty arms, I felt alone. I had no idea then, how many women had walked this path before me.

The NW Washington chapter was started 7 months after her death, by our bereavement nurse. I had no idea what to expect walking into that meeting. Honestly, I thought we would be the only couple there. To our astonishment, the room was full. After that 2 hours, I finally felt a place I belonged. I met other women who had walked in my shoes, and who truly understood my grief. The connection I felt after finally talking face to face with others who had lost a baby was, and is, one of the biggest factors in my healing. I was honored 2 years later to take over as director of the NW Washington chapter.

My journey to being a parent did not go anything like I thought it would. In 2002 I miscarried my first pregnancy. My second pregnancy ended abruptly with an emergency c-section. My son was born at 33 weeks, due to placental abruption, and he barely made it through the first night. He stayed in the NICU for 3 weeks. It wasn't until years later we realized how lucky we were that he had survived. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer 4 years later and was told our chances of conceiving again were slim. We attempted an adoption, and learned 2 weeks before the baby was due that the mom changed her mind. In 2009 we decided to try again. We just felt God had a plan for our family and we weren't done yet. We suffered 2 miscarriages in early 2009, before finally conceiving Sophia. She was stillborn 8 months later, on March 29th, 2010. On March 16, 2011, we finally brought a baby home from the hospital. Our 2nd daughter, Scarlett, was born full term, and is truly a blessing to our family. I have endured many hardships on the road to becoming a mother, and I feel that with God's help, I am able to offer that same support, and hope, that carried me in my journey with grief. I hope that as you walk this journey of grief, that you find support here with other Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death.

M.E.N.D. is a registered 501(c)(3) and was founded in Irving, TX in 1996.  Please take a moment to meet our Board of Directors and national leadership team.

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