At Pregnancy After Loss Support, we followed Minnesota’s lead and declared March to be PAL Awareness Month. This meant a lot of work on the part of the fabulous women I work with. They drafted letters as templates, wrote a proclamation, and put together lots of articles, resources, and ways to engage our community. I had the easy part, and hit some buttons and asked some questions to solicit feedback.
Then, I got an idea.
If it’s PAL Awareness Month in Minnesota, why can’t it be PAL Awareness Month in Delaware?
I did a little research. I used the proclamation my peers had drafted. I set up a petition in case I needed reinforcements. And, I reached out to a politically connected and ambitious friend who helped get my emails read and answered.
On Sunday, he let me know that Governor Jack Markell was going to sign the proclamation. Did I want to come to Dover to his office to meet him, and take some pictures? You betcha. State Senator Bethany Hall-Long was there, too. She’s kind of a big deal in Congress (said in my best Ron Burgundy voice), especially when it comes to legislature for health and human services. We shook hands and talked for a few moments and took some pictures (I left Elise at home so there was no kissing of any babies).
I left with two copies of the proclamation, a racing and exhilarated heart, and wide eyes from being inside Legislative Hall and the governor’s office.
I also left more determined than ever to continue to raise awareness about Pregnancy After Loss, which may become my new direction for Hank’s Hope.
Thank you to all who supported me on this journey, and continue to do so each day. We all are only as strong as the people behind us who hold us together on days we can’t do it ourselves.
Your efforts will help all of us. Thanks for being the mover and shaker that you are so that others can be helped and made aware of PAL.