I Went to the Hospital With a Baby in My Belly and Left With a Teddy Bear
Before we left, the staff gave me keepsakes, including his footprints and a bereavement teddy bear. It felt like a cruel joke.
On December 12, 2017, Chef Bae, also known as Sherri Smith, found herself in a Cleveland, Ohio hospital after experiencing worsening cramps during her 27th week of pregnancy. Little did she know, her labor would result in the heartbreaking loss of her son, who did not survive. The hospital provided her with mementos, including his footprints and a bereavement teddy bear, but the reality of leaving the hospital without her son was devastating.
Grief followed her into everyday life, and she struggled with questions about why she had been given the gift of carrying her son only to lose him. Despite multiple miscarriages and stillbirths, Chef Bae and her husband remained strong, raising two beautiful daughters. She continues to find joy in her life, cherishing her family and the blessings they bring while always remembering the precious son she never got to raise.
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