Letter from the Editor, August
2002
We've got another full issue here at KotaPress Loss Journal this month. For some reason, this month I have a particlar ache for my son, and so after this full, busy summer, I'm a little lonely. I tried this issue to do a bunch of different outreach and offer some different resources out in the world at large. I figured just in case you were aching a bit, too, then maybe we could find some comfort in each other's survival.
While I'm honored to remember our children here in our "Honored Children" which is a virtual memorial garden, I'm so sorry to say that we have 5 new additions this month. Several of you sent photos of your precious babies which I have published along with the memorials. Some of you sent links to your own websites which have also been published with the memorials. And what can I say? I wish we were meeting under different circumstances.
My heart became so hurt after reading the horrid research the Lancet medical journal published last month -- only to have U.S. pop media pick it up and do headlines all over the place to say "Mothers shouldn't hold their stillborn children"-- GAWD! Are we actually going back to the dark ages of my granny's generation where we shoved bereaved parents into closets and told them to forget everything that's happened??? Screw the Lancet and their irresponsible publication of shoddy research. *SO* this month one of our Feature Articles is "MISS counters Lancet" where we are sharing the press release that Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross put out through the MISS Foundation to try and counter some of the damage the Lancet and U.S. news media have done. Hope you'll read it and pass it on!!
Then we have a review of PJW Publishing's new line of greeting cards that are really awesome diversions from the Hallmark way of thinking. These "In Other Words..." cards might prove to be great tools for providing long term support to bereaved families -- especially when you just want to let them know you are still thinking of them and that you are still there for them. Unconditionally.
And we have articles about the lastest news at the MISS Foundation, the MISSing Angels Bill (passed unanimously in MA!!), one woman's journey after a PCOS diagnosis, reading materials for bereaved families, poetry for the bereaved heart, and information about an art show happening in AZ in memory of Allen Curtis! That art show is going to feature some amazing paintings -- one of which incorporates my own mom's poem about being a bereaved Nanna. Honored to have been a part of that whole creation.
Hope you find a small bit of something to help you through...
Miracles to you!
This page is dedicated to Dakota
Born and died March 11, 1999
Author Biography
Kara lives on Vashon Island which is a much more
awesome place than she ever imagined it would be. She is a poet, bookmaker,
wife, teacher, mother to a stillborn son, facilitator, receptionist, founder,
struggling p.t.barnum, turtle faithful, editor, artist, and a million
other things that will prevent you from putting her in any one particular
label box! Kara teaches through local art centers, artists in the schools
programs, KotaPress and independently. To find out more about her, see:
http://www.KotaPress.com/kara/karajones.htm
And her class Expanding Poetry is now available in an online format from CourseBridge.com where you can register today at:
http://www.coursebridge.com/html/courses/writing/cbep01.asp
