The following Letter to the Editor was published today, April 27, 2018 in the Kansas City Star. I wrote it after reading the tribute to Barbara Bush on April 21. The essay/editorial struck a cord that is worthy of noting. Please read. Thank you to the KC Star for including it in today’s edition.
Mary Sanchez’s sympathetic and empathetic column concerning Barbara Bush is a testimony to the strength of character not only of Mrs. Bush, but her mom and all of us who experience the loss a child. (April 21, 11A, “Remembering Barbara Bush, grieving mother”)
My experience was a miscarriage of twins. But that was half a century after Robin Bush’s death and Sanchez’s mother’s first late-term loss. I was fortunate to have a community that understood it was a loss and allowed me to grieve.
Another generation later, our daughter-in-law lost a daughter, Faith, at 17 weeks. Fortunately, she was supported by a medical team that understood the need to allow her and her husband time with the daughter.
Loss is painful, but grieving is a process that one must experience, and a medical team that understands that need is exceptional.
Sanchez’s words and her insight concerning Mrs. Bush are evidence that our culture is learning to honor painful life experiences appropriately. Thank you for sharing such a personal and perceptive tribute to Mrs. Bush, but also to your own mom and all mothers who know the loss of a child all too soon.
Susan Annette Smith Warrensburg
Susandoodles Weblog 