As I continue to work with families via phone and video chat who are struggling with breastfeeding and other issues of adjusting to life with a new baby, I am supporting parents who are dealing with a whole new level of anxiety . No one planned to bring a child into the world in the middle of The Global Pandemic of 2020, also known as The Corona Virus, or COVid19. This is an incredibly difficult time for new parents, and for those of us who support them. Birth and Peri-Natal workers such as Midwives, counselors, OB/GYN’s, Lactation Professionals, Doulas, Childbirth Educators and so many others find ourselves at a loss sometimes on how to give these families hope. I agree, that it’s tough, but we can help remind them that as humans, we are amazingly resilient. Most likely, they are parents who worked hard to prepare for their birth, no matter the outcome. Remind them of the strength they tapped into during that experience. It is what prepared them for this time in their child/children’s life. There may have been a time that they had to “trust forward,” moving to the next step or stage. Remind them that they can draw from this strength at any time because it is in their core, infused by their faith . I don’t make it a habit of sharing my personal story with my clients. Some of them may have known me before my most recent accident. But what I do share often, is the strength of the human spirit. I have made it through a lot of incredibly difficult experiences in my life. I have recovered from each of them over and over to the extent, physically that I am going to. But my heart, mind, and spirit continue to grow every day. As I sit in prayer and meditation, raising my awareness, my personal vibration, replacing fear with certainty and trust, replacing sadness and loss with love, I know that we will get through this time as well. I invite everyone to quiet your own minds in whichever personal spiritual practice speaks to you. Today is Good Friday. In my religion of origin, we fasted and abstained from meat. Today I shall abstain from thoughts of lack, fear, confusion, and conspiracy. We are always in the right place at the right time in love, peace and harmony with the earth and all her inhabitants. Namaste🙏
Nancy Dellamaria has experienced several near death experiences including a serious baby-rattlesnake bite with hospitalization, serious illness leading up to the need for corrective brain surgery. A blood clot in the legs that went to the lungs (DVT/PE.) Having a 16 year old daughter with the same genetic brain condition (Chiari Malfunction) and while on the way to the children’s hospital where her daughter’s corrective brain surgery was scheduled, Nancy and her daughter were involved in a 3-person plane crash in which their pilot was killed. Her daughter survived with very minimal injuries. Nancy was severely injured with a broken neck, sternum, several ribs, and a large cut on her head with loss of blood requiring a blood transfusion. . She was hospitalized for almost a month. She was in a neck brace for 9 months, had neck surgery after 6 months, and spent a year in physical therapy.
She knew, as hard as it was, that if she gave into depression or feelings of giving up, it would impede her healing. She felt that she had survived each of these challenges for a reason, and that each time still wasn’t her time yet. She made a promise to herself and her Creator that that she would make the best of every one of these bonus days that she had received in this life. There was So much to be thankful for 🙏
At my three months post-op visit, I saw my neuro-surgeon at Stanford. This was the same one who had taken care of me from the moment I arrived in the ER from the wreckage site, nine months earlier, and then did my fusion surgery when the fracture wasn’t healing. I was told that my attitude was what made all the difference in how we heal. He shared that he had seen people with “poor attitudes who became stuck in fear and non-compliance.” They were often the ones who didn’t turn out so well. He thanked me for keeping my spirits up. And I thank you all for keeping your spirits up at this time as well. we will all get through this together. Stay strong, Be well. Wash your hands, Stay home, and stay healthy in mind and spirit.
Sister to Sister Birth 