Kimberly & Jason, spreading HOPE for Julianna Rose & Madeline Elizabeth
Ambassadors Kimberly & Jason Greenberg, fundraising in memory of Julianna Rose & Madeline Elizabeth
“Our identical twin daughters were IVF babies. We started with one female embryo, that we named after our maternal grandmothers, Julianna Rose. We were so thrilled at our 8-week ultrasound to learn that the embryo had split, giving us our Madeline Elizabeth, named for our paternal grandmothers. After 4 rounds of IVF and two prior miscarriages, this was the highest of highs for us. The girls while identical, were extremely healthy and presented with none of the risk factors associated with identical twins. I was doing well during the pregnancy. Unfortunately, around 12 weeks it was determined from one of the girls' fetal ultrasounds that I had a substantial and dangerous blockage of the duct of my appendix. I was told that the appendix had to be removed during the pregnancy as the organ would burst and probably take all of us from sepsis as the pregnancy progressed. Reluctant but wanting to save my babies, I agreed to the surgery. Unfortunately, I would sustain a surgical infection from my surgery, which transferred to my placenta at a point when the girls were too young to be viable. After a week of fighting for the pregnancy in the hospital, I went into pre-term labor and delivered them stillborn at 17 weeks. I chose to be awake and deliver, as I desperately wanted to "meet" my babies in this world. The two days I had with them and my husband in the hospital were some of the hardest and yet most beautiful moments of my life. The nurses dressed them in little gowns and gave them tiny blankets. We took photos with them. I held, cuddled, kissed, and carressed them. I sang to them, told them stories, and shared with them all the words of motherly love in my heart. I needed that time with them and I am so glad we had it. I later found out that within the blockage in my appendix was an early cancerous lesion, which was causing no symptoms, but would have taken all 3 of us had it not been found on their ultrasound. My daughters saved my life and that will forever haunt me, but I know I have the best guardian angels in these babies. We are now 27 weeks pregnant with our rainbow baby, who we believe was sent by his sisters. This baby and his older brother will know and love the girls as we know and continue to love them as their parents. They are forever our daughters. I share their story and our story so that their memories live on and in the hopes that I can comfort another family or families on their grief journey.”
If you would like to make a contribution to Kimberly & Jason’s fundraiser in honor of Julianna Rose & Madeline Elizabeth, here are the programs and initiatives your money goes towards:
Sponsorship for virtual support groups and in-person retreats
Outreach and education for healthcare providers
Peer and community support
Empowering resources for bereaved families and their loved ones
Learn more about RTZ HOPEtober and how you can help us spread hope and shine a light on pregnancy and infant loss, helping others to live a life full of hope, connection, and meaning.