October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
This story deals with the topic but is more about hope and healing, finding strength in sharing and community, and reclaiming a legacy for a child whose life was lost before it even began.
“When I was pregnant with Ashlie, I made a Facebook post that said, ‘This baby girl is going to change the world,’ and this is not what I had in mind,” said Erin Maroon.
Erin and Tony Maroon couldn’t wait to become parents and could’ve never imagined how their world would change.
“Everyone tells you how to go home with a baby, but no one tells you how to go home without one,” Erin said.
Their daughter, Ashlie Cathren, was stillborn at 41 weeks.
“I held her for maybe 15 minutes, took some pictures, and gave her back, and that was the last time I ever held or saw my baby girl,” she said.
She was beautiful, Erin said. Their time with Ashlie was far too short.
“When we heard about these CuddleCots, we thought, ‘Are you serious?” said Maroon. “We didn’t have one of those. We didn’t have the opportunity.”