A local company is assembling care packages to support women who are facing the loss of a child or are unable to conceive.
Kayla Meller’s company, Hope Anchors, puts together gift boxes for people who are experiencing infertility, pregnancy loss or infant loss. These types of loss can be isolating experiences for couples, Meller said, especially for women. When people reach out, it can help combat that isolation.
“I think often people are afraid to reach out because they don’t want to remind somebody, whether it’s about infertility or their loss,” she said. “The reality is we’re already thinking about it all the time.”
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and Oct. 15 was World Pregnancy and Loss Remembrance Day. While these are helpful starting points for people to reach out to the women in their lives experiencing those types of losses, Meller said touching base is important at all times of the year.
Meller said her goal is to raise awareness among the family and friends of those dealing with either a loss or infertility, in the hopes don’t feel forgotten.
Because these types of losses and experiences are so sensitive, Meller said families and friends sometimes don’t know how to broach the subject to offer their support, and instead don’t say anything at all.
“It can, at times, if you’re the one in that experience, make you feel alone because people are hesitant to reach out,” she said.
Meller’s passion for supporting women and families dealing with infertility, pregnancy loss and infant loss comes from her own personal experience.
“My husband and I struggled with infertility for about two and a half years before having our daughter,” she said.
During the course of trying to get pregnant, Meller said she and her husband visited their doctor and were told their best option to get pregnant was in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI)
“We ended up trying five rounds of IUI,” she said. “All five of those were unsuccessful.”
After taking a break from the treatment – for their emotional well-being as much as anything else, Meller said – the couple was able to conceive their daughter.
“I often hesitate to share that when I’m talking to other people who are struggling with infertility, because I know when we were in the middle of that journey, I kind of hated hearing that part – ‘We stopped trying and then it happened,’” she said.
While Meller and her husband did not suffer a miscarriage themselves, she said they connected with a number of people who had.
“When we were in the midst of our infertility journey, we were with friends and people who just had or were experiencing miscarriage or other losses,” she said. “That’s why it’s so close to my heart.”
Hope Anchors was established earlier this year. Meller said each care package contains a variety of items including tea, coffee, bath salts and a journal. All of the items in the boxes are made in Alberta, and are meant to promote relaxation and comfort.
More information about Hope Anchors can be found at hopeanchorsyyc.ca
Ben Sherick, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @BenSherick
