I remember the exact day I found Postpartum Progress. November 10, 2010. It was a Wednesday.
I can’t remember exactly how I found it, but I think the site actually found me. That was before I started this blog. It was before I discovered #PPDChat. It was before I really started talking about my experience with PPD. But someone – one of my Facebook friends – posted a link and I clicked on it.
All of a sudden everything seemed a little better. I looked at the definition of postpartum depression and the 6-things series and I noticed, throughout, the tone of acceptance and support and hope. Finding that site turned me around and pointed me in the right direction, and at the time I had only a glimpse of how totally amazing it is.
That day, I sent an email to the site’s founder, Katherine Stone:
Katherine,
Just a quick message to say that I came across your site this morning via a link on Facebook. I immediately grabbed it and sent it to myself to read later, and I’m so glad I saw that one message pop up before I missed the chance to really notice it.
Your site is incredible, and it’s found its way to me at a very opportune time. My perfectionist personality (oh, how that is a factor for me!) has made it very hard to reach out for help. I finally did that nearly a year ago and overall am much better, but this has been a rough week and I’m realizing that I’m not quite there yet.
I’m not sure where this journey will continue to take me, but I’m very grateful to have found your site as I think it will be a good resource for both me and my family.
Robin Farr
Katherine sent this to me in response:
I’m so glad you found Postpartum Progress, and that it has been helpful. It is so normal to have rough weeks in the process of recovery. Just keep doing what you are doing – I am so happy that you reached out for help. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other!!
The content of that short reply sums up everything that is amazing about Katherine and the work she does.
When I created my mama Twitter account and started blogging, I came across Katherine again and have come to know her as a totally supportive, incredibly dedicated woman. When she started her Daily Hope emails earlier this year, I signed up immediately. For months they gave me what I needed to face each day and while I no longer need them, I still get them. A dose of love and support every day – how could I not want that?
I get a lot from Postpartum Progress, and today I’m hoping to give back.
October 5th is the day when more children are born each year than any other day. Today is Strong Start Day.
I’m going to quote directly from Postpartum Progress to explain the significance:
Only 15% of all women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders ever receive professional treatment. This means that each year hundreds of thousands more women and their children may suffer from the negative effects of untreated PPD and related illnesses for the rest of their lives.
Postpartum Progress will change that with your help. We are developing a compelling national awareness campaign for postpartum depression, as well as new and improved patient education materials (the kind new moms won’t throw away!), and new uses of technology to reach suffering moms no matter where they are.
On October 5th, the day when more children are born each year than any other day, I am asking you to do one of three things:
1) Make a donation to Postpartum Progress. Any amount is welcome.
2) Ask at least 2 other people who love you and know what you went through – people who’ve come to know that postpartum depression is real and that all women deserve to have access to the best information and help – to make a donation today in your name.
3) Refer us to contacts at organizations that can help us with our work.
If you are financially unable to donate, send us your prayers or moral support so that we may find the right people to help us make major change.
Today’s the day. Please help us build stronger families, one mom at a time.
