Voting has closed!
Sponsored by: Friends of Serenity
Plea:
I am Kelly Gerken, mom to Timothy and James on earth and Faith, Grace, and Thomas who dance in heaven. I am also the author of Sufficient Grace and the President and Founder of Sufficient Grace Ministries, serving thousands of grieving families worldwide since 2004. From my own family’s journey of grief and healing, I also created the Dreams of You Memory Book and other beautiful support materials to help families form a precious memory for their babies who leave this earth too soon.
My husband Tim and I said goodbye to twin daughters, Faith and Grace, born still in 1996 at 26 weeks gestation, due to complications from twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. In 1998, we heard the words “incompatible with life” in regards to our son, Thomas, who was diagnosed with Potter’s Syndrome. We chose to continue the pregnancy, despite the diagnosis, embracing the time we were given with our son. There were no resources for families facing a life-limiting diagnosis in pregnancy in 1998. That’s why we are so passionate about creating beautiful, life-affirming resources for families facing loss today. Because every life matters, no matter how brief. Thomas lived for six hours after his full term birth before going home to heaven. It is one of the great privileges of my life to have been chosen as the mother to sing to this precious baby as he went straight from my arms to the arms of Jesus. You can read more about our family’s journey from ashes to beauty here, blog.sufficientgraceministries.org.
“She provides comfort and wisdom in her blog posts which can be read at http://blog.sufficientgraceministries.org/. Her words have provided hope for readers over the years. Her book, Sufficient Grace, (Comfort Publishing) was released November 2014 and has also touched the lives of many. The best way to share how this book has impacted others is through a reader’s response: ‘This book is an amazing story of faith and of God’s sufficient grace through the toughest of storms. We are taken back to walk the journey of the author’s loss of three of her children and it certainly grips the heart. Kelly writes as if you were right there with her. For those who have lost a child, you understand what the author is going through. While it can take you back to your own loss, it is comforting to know that here is someone who has walked through not just the loss of one child, but three, and managed to survive and even thrive in the life after loss. For those who haven’t lost a child, this helps give an understanding of what it is like to go through it. Invaluable resource for both families who have and haven’t experienced a loss. Worth sharing!! Proof that God’s grace is truly sufficient!’ ~Holly H.” ~ Emily Jetter
I have the privilege of serving families as a perinatal loss support doula and remembrance photographer in Ohio and internationally as the originator of Walking With You, an online support outreach. I am a featured speaker at hospitals, churches, women’s groups, and a leader of educational seminars for hospital staff and caregivers. I am also a monthly contributor to Still Standing Magazine (stillstandingmag.com). Along with a team of volunteers, we have created a perinatal hospice and bereavement program, offering unparalleled resources and support to families in-person throughout the state of Ohio and worldwide online.
Although I have been nominated for this award as an author/blogger (international category), because I am from the United States, I would like to share a link to a video that shows the services SGM provides for bereaved parents, as it is the heart of what I write and the reason why I write…to offer comfort and hope for those walking through the wilderness of grief.
Thank you for the humbling honor of being nominated for this most sacred award. Love and Grace to all…
What others have said:
She provides comfort and wisdom in her blog posts. Her words have provided hope for readers over the years. Her book, Sufficient Grace was released November 2014 and has touched the lives of many. For those who haven’t lost a child, her book helps give an understanding of what it is like to go through it.