SHARE Atlanta

From Jennifer Greer, our original March of Dimes organizer...

I am so excited to tell you about the conversation I just had with Monica Sanghavi at March of Dimes! Due to our awesome success in 2004, SHARE Atlanta will be one of only ten teams to have their own tent at the Centennial Park walk. This means we can decorate with balloons, our banners and quilt, have a central meeting place for our team, and hand out SHARE Atlanta materials to families who may not know who we are or that a group like ours even exists. It will also be a patch of shade and a way for our parents to participate who may not be able to physically participate in the walk.

Those of you who have already signed up now know where our meeting place will be -- at the SHARE Atlanta tent! Look for the burgundy and cream balloons.

This will be a wonderful day with lots of fun, food, family centered activities and time to reconnect with our support network. If you haven’t signed up, there is still time. Go to www.walkamerica.org and follow the links to sign up with team SHARE Atlanta for the Downtown Atlanta walk in Centennial Olympic Park. Even if the only money you raise is your own donation, please join us. Every bit of support helps bring us one step closer to the day when no one will need a SHARE group any more. What a wonderful day that will be! I hope to see you all on the 30th. Jen

Honors and Gifts...thoughts from Marcia

Time...a word that many of us do not like, but as we say in our groups - by using time wisely and mutually working through things together - change can gradually occur and some of what is needed in life happens.

Twenty years ago when SHARE Atlanta began, few knew our name or what our issues were. There were: a handful of books about pregnancy loss; a few doctors who truly understood our medical and emotional issues; no websites for support; and only a few support groups nationwide. We struggled to be heard at all. Even today, we work hard to be fully embraced by our communities. Our parents want to know why we are a "secret" society.

Through the years, in SHARE Atlanta's continuing efforts to awaken others to our mission and issues, we have provided: advocacy pins and brochures; written materials and a website, outreach programs for awareness and support (Festival of Trees, donations to the shelter, MOD's walk, 4B's) and face to face group meetings. We do not want pregnancy and newborn loss to be a hush-hush subject. It is through a clear message and mission statement that we can advocate for medical research and advancements and emotional support.

Because SHARE Atlanta's team #562 has consistently increased its donation goal and been presented five notable awards, we are putting a face to our organization and to our issues. For our totally volunteer organization to be included in the Chairman's Kickoff Luncheon this year as one of the Top Ten groups was a true recognition by the MOD's committee of our efforts.

When we arrived at the luncheon, the MOD's representatives knew who we were and what we have accomplished. SHARE Atlanta's name was placed on the screen with highly visible companies (many who are sponsors as well as walkers) such as BellSouth, Coca-Cola, Publix, Kaiser Permanente, Turner Construction, Equifax, Delta, Grady Health System, etc..

Many in attendance asked about us. One team leader, a man representing a local bank, asked me who we were and then shared his story of loss from 15 years ago. He said that he wished that he and his wife had known about us. He even began thinking of the possibility of naming their stillborn child. Dorenda Washington, the mother from MOD's National Ambassador Family who has lost five babies, had not heard of us - now she knows who we are. These were connections...

The tent is an honor and a gift from MODs that can help us make more connections. It is an opportunity that many of us never would have dreamed possible. As they say, "We have come a long way..." It has been a long, hard, continuous and worthwhile path that our members have traveled together. We need people to continue this journey with us. We must realize the significance of this important opportunity.

Please consider coming out and joining us for a few hours on the 30. Jennifer's note explains the morning in more detail. Please RSVP to me if you can join us. We especially need a few people who will not walk so they can “man” the tent as others do walk.

I know many are busy, but if you can squeeze in some "time" - do so in memory of you baby and in support of our team, our advocacy, and of MOD's willingness to make this happen for us!

Thanks, Marcia

The love stays...forever in our hearts.

for Justin Washington’s online story