Sometimes all we need is a reminder to wake up
While I was sharing my epidural recovery journey, I realised I’d left out the moment that changed everything for me.
During one of the darkest periods of my recovery, we received a call to collect a baby who had passed away at the same hospital where I had just delivered my own son.
The baby was the same gestational age.
There was no clear explanation why the heartbeat had stopped.
As a funeral director, I have cared for many families experiencing unimaginable loss.
But this one felt especially close to home.
Just days earlier, I had been lying in that same hospital holding my own newborn.
Until then, I had been consumed by my own pain.
Wondering why this had happened to me.
Wondering if my body would ever recover.
Wondering whether life would ever feel normal again.
That case didn’t make my pain disappear.
But it reminded me of something I will never forget.
Sometimes life doesn’t change.
Our perspective does.
My body wasn’t where I wanted it to be.
But my son was alive.
I was alive.
And suddenly, those became the blessings I couldn’t stop thinking about.
Working in the funeral industry constantly reminds me how fragile life is.
This experience reminded me that gratitude doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay.
It simply means choosing not to let suffering blind us to the blessings we still have.
If today feels heavy, I hope this reminds you to hold your loved ones a little tighter.
Ordinary days are a gift that many people wish they still had. ❤️
If this story resonated with you, I’d love for you to follow along. As a funeral director, mother, and embalmer, I share honest stories about life, loss, and the lessons they teach us. ❤️
Recovering from an epidural complication while simultaneously coping with the realities of loss provided me with a profound life lesson. Often, when we face physical pain or setbacks, it’s easy to become trapped in our own suffering. But experiencing a deeply personal connection to loss—particularly when it involves a baby of the same gestational age as my newborn son—dramatically shifted my perspective. This dual experience made me realize that despite the hardships, life’s blessings still exist and deserve our attention. Being a funeral director exposes you to grief daily, but it also teaches an invaluable truth: grief and gratitude can coexist. They don't cancel each other out; instead, they intermingle and shape how we see our world. The heartbreaking news during my own recovery was a wakeup call to appreciate the simplest gifts—my son’s life, my own resilience, and the ordinary days many take for granted. This new outlook didn’t erase my pain, but it offered a new way to process it. Gratitude doesn’t require us to dismiss our struggles or pretend everything is perfect. Rather, it invites us to acknowledge our pain while still recognizing what we have to be thankful for. Sometimes, the most powerful reminder is that life itself is fragile and unpredictable. It encourages us to cling tightly to our loved ones and cherish the present moments. From my experience, I encourage anyone going through tough times to try and find slivers of light in the darkness. Whether it’s a smile from your child, a kind word from a friend, or just the chance to breathe another day, these small blessings are what make life precious. Sharing my story is part of how I heal and hope to inspire others facing similar challenges. Every difficult journey holds lessons about resilience, love, and gratitude that can ultimately lead us to a richer, more mindful existence.
