Monica Novak

Monica Novak became a bereaved mother in 1995 with the stillbirth of her daughter Miranda, learning firsthand the devastation of saying goodbye to a much-loved, much-wanted baby before having the chance to say hello. Three weeks later, she began a journey towards healing when she attended her first Share support group meeting. Along the way, she and six other bereaved mothers formed a close bond that carried them through the grief of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death, as well as the challenges of subsequent pregnancy and infertility. Having been at the opposite ends of grief and joy; despair and hope; indifference and compassion; fear and peace-sometimes simultaneously-she has captured these emotions and the story of her journey in a highly-praised new memoir titled The Good Grief Club. Monica writes and speaks on the subject of pregnancy loss and infant death and is involved with local and national organizations that provide support to families and caregivers. She is a member of the Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance (PLIDA). Her mission is to bring comfort and hope to bereaved parents worldwide and to educate and promote awareness to the physicians, nurses, clergy, counselors, family, and friends of every mother or father who has or ever will be told that their baby has no heartbeat or that nothing more can be done. The mother of three daughters, Monica lives in the Chicago area with her husband, children, and a rat terrier named Sami. For more information, please visit www.thegoodgriefclub.com or e-mail Monica at monica@thegoodgriefclub.com Monica appeared on the radio show “Healing the Grieving Heart” discussing ”Miscarriage and Infant Loss.” To hear Monica being interviewed on this show by Dr. Gloria & Dr. Heidi Horsley, go to the following link: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/34073/miscarriage-and-infant-loss

Articles:

Open to  hope

Company Prepares to Welcome Employee Back After Stillbirth

I received a call one day from Pat, the Share support group facilitator and perinatal bereavement coordinator at the local hospital, telling me that she and I had been invited […]

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Helping a Child After a Loss

By Cathy R. Blanford, M.Ed. – Begin by taking care of yourself. If you do not have someone to be there for you, you may have difficulty being there for […]

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Floating Downstream

By Monica Novak – When I began writing this weekly column, A Mother’s Thoughts, my intention was to post something new once a week.  Shouldn’t be too difficult, doesn’t have […]

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The Emotional Impact of Stillbirth in a Multiple Pregnancy

By Jean Kollantai – The experience of carrying two, loving two, getting ready to totally care for two lively babies at once was something I never could have imagined until […]

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A Single White Rose

By Barbara A. Glanz – In 1971 I faced the most difficult experience of my life, one which has changed me forever.  I had grown up in a small town […]

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Signs of Hope

By Monica Novak – When our daughter Miranda was stillborn, the word “hope” took on new meaning for me.  Used often to describe the feeling that what you want in […]

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Holding On and Letting Go

By Beth Seyda – After my infant son, Dylan, died I started jotting down various things and scenes I recalled from our experience.  I wanted to write about these memories […]

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Corporate Department Takes Special Care to Welcome Back Bereaved Mom Co-Worker

By Monica Novak – I received a call one day from Pat, the Share support group facilitator and perinatal bereavement coordinator at the local hospital, telling me that she and […]

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Woman Grieves Over Death of a Baby 35 Years Ago

From Open to Hope: Ask The Authors, December 10, 2008 Tammy writes in with a question: My friend who is 52 is grieving over a baby she lost when she […]

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‘Grief is an Illness’ and Other Myths Surrounding Loss

By David Daniels, M.D. – Destructive myths abound concerning the loss and grief process. First, contrary to some views, there is no one “right” way to die or grieve; our […]

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