It was over breakfast at Denny’s that Maureen Day and her husband shared some special news with their four children, aged 7 to 20. They were expecting a new baby. The reactions were initially mixed, but it wasn’t long before everyone was embracing the idea of a brand new addition to the family.
Around 8 weeks Maureen began spotting but didn’t think much of it – An ultrasound that allowed her to see her baby and hear that precious heartbeat convinced her everything was fine. But after spotting again at 11 weeks, she was stunned by the nurse’s words, “Well, we’re not seeing what we would normally see….” She says she will never forget the image of the black hole on the monitor as the nurse moved the wand over her belly.
Maureen was amazed by the depth of her grief. For weeks, she was consumed by tears and a feeling of numbness. Despite being surrounded by family and friend, Maureen felt alone.
It was during this tragic time that HeavenBornwas ‘born’. Maureen created it as a not-for-profit that provides a tangible source of comfort – a handmade pillow, as well as a simple booklet that offers help in handling the physical and emotional challenges a mother in this position will face.
Maureen creates the pillows by hand with the help of some generous women. It is her goal to make these pillows available to all mothers who experience this type of tragedy. Many of the HeavenBorn pillows are now being given to mothers in local hospitals at their time of loss. HeavenBorn exists solely based on donations and volunteers who donate their time to create these small tokens of love. If you would like to donate your time…or you are interested in starting a HeavenBorn chapter in your area, email Maureen at Maureen@heavenborn.com.
Join us on a SPECIAL DAY (THURSDAY) for Why Moms Matter on Blog Talk Radio to learn more about Maureen and the amazing work she does for mothers experiencing the pain of miscarriage.
This is a woman who is creating movements, redefining what it means to be a woman and a mother and honoring the value in motherhood with each step she takes every day.
A mother to 4 children – Brody is 20, Blaze is 18, Ali is 16 and Zena is 14 – Joy believes the most important thing she does with her children is to set a positive and loving example on a daily basis, “I’m pretty simple when it comes to ‘mothering’: Feed them, Love them, Listen to them and share my philosophy when it is relevant.”
Brandy on Dwan: “Dwan is extraordinary because she is a single mother of three children. No matter how hard life may be financially and emotionally for Dwan, she is still a Mom who does extraordinary things for her children. She gives all she has to them and tries her best to make money working from home.”
With Dwan by her side, Gabby sees 6 specialists and 5 therapists on a regular basis. This is modeling unconditional love. And she constantly supports her family on all levels, “I work from home literally around the clock, in between caring for kids, doctor appointments, running errands, maintaining the house and sleeping.”
Balancing life as a work at home mom with raising three children – a 6 year old daughter and 2 sons who are 2 years old and 10 months, Brandy’s days are full. And yet, the only thing she would change would be to have her husband around a bit more. She worries about the stress he endures working a 6 day, 50 hour week.
Clearly, being a Mom is a priority for Brandy, “I hope to teach all three of my children that it is ok to make mistakes as long as you learn something from those mistakes and move forward in a positive direction.”
“I can tell you first hand that she truly cares about people and not in that fake kind of way,” Carissa explained in her nomination. ” And Carissa should know – she and Jyl have partnered on a one-of-a-kind website and social media driven community – 
A mom to 2 beautiful, healthy boys – Chase is 8 and Connor is 6 – Jyl does not take her role lightly. She was faced with an excruciating decision when she decided to have children – as she was not able to go off her medication during pregnancy. Jyl was very concerned about birth defects. Fortunately, both boys are perfect.
Nominated as a Mom Who Matters, by a close friend, Kathy is described as a mother of 3 who does it all, including, “school pick ups and drop offs, dance classes, guitar lessons, skateboarding, homework, school functions, church and being a Sunday school teacher“. 
Nine years ago, Trina Pockett at the doctor for a routine pregnancy check up. She was 4 months pregnant with her second child, a daughter, Kate.
She had 2 months of treatment while she was pregnant. After she gave birth to Kate, she settled in for chemo and radiation.
“The kids were an absolute blessing to me because they gave me a sense of purpose. On the days when I was most tired and discouraged, the kids gave me a sense of purpose. Even though I was sick, they still needed a mom.”
This difficult journey changed Trina as a parent, “. There are days that I watch my children and in awe that I get to be their mom. It is a true joy. I have tried to instill into them the importance of making the most of each day. I want them to pursue their goals and dreams. ”
