October 30, 2011

Spoken Word Project



I am (reluctantly!) joining Angie's project, where she asks those of us who have experienced baby loss to read one of our posts. I've loved watching the others who have bravely shared -- thanks for taking the first steps. :)

30 comments:

KrystalK said...

I would love to see your take on the spoken word round up, but your video is posted on you tube as private.

Josh Jackson said...

Thanks for the heads up. It should be up now.

Jeanette said...

Josh, it's so wonderful to see and hear you. You write/speak so tenderley of your family, and you remind me to think of my husband, and how he feels. Not that I need reminding really, but my husband is a quiet man who loves us all so dearly, and it's good to get a male perspective on this life of loss.
Oh yeah, and he gives blood too, I hadn't considered how he might feel doing it, so thank you for that. x

Anonymous said...

thank you for sharing with us. i cried the first time you posted this, and cried yet again watching you share your grief with us. we have never met you or margot, but you will always be in our hearts and in our prayers.
love,
jhx5

Kate said...

I remember this post. And it's so nice to hear it read by you.
I wish I could donate (but I fall into the 'lived in the UK so I might have mad cows' category). Especially after needing so much blood and blood product to save my own life when Joseph was born. I understand that grateful feeling and wanting to give back. Thanks for sharing yourself like this here Josh. xo

skytimes said...

What a great gift donating blood is... I'm not allowed to do it (even though i'm type-O neg) because as soon as they peek into my vaccination book they send me home, saying: Come back when you haven't been in weird tropical countries for 10 years". Oh well...

I feel blessed having heard you read your blogpost, blessed to witness the male side of things - which isn't so different after all. Our lives are minus one... and always will be.

Thanks for participating and giving us the opportunity to hear and see you. Sending a hug to the whole family! xx

KrystalK said...

Thank you for sharing Josh! An amazingly written tribute to some amazing people in your life, including yourself.

Angela said...

I've read some of your posts, not all. This is one I've missed. Hearing it from you for the first time brought the words to life. Thank you for sharing. Your love for your family is beautiful.

Crystal said...

Thank you for sharing! The next time I give blood... I will think of you and your precious family.

erica said...

Thanks for braving the camera, Josh. Seeing and hearing you read your words aloud was amazing.

I loved hearing about the old men donating platelets, and can't help but wonder if the elderly tend to be the people who, in the normal scheme of things, are most aware of how precious and fleeting life can be.

So much love to you and Kari and Stella, and to your Margot.

Rachel said...

I'm still catching up on hearing everyone's, so you're not late the game, at least in regards to me.

I remember reading this post. It adds another element to hear the love in your voice for your family. I am an advocate for giving blood, but will keep Margot and Kari in mind in the future when I give. much love.

Becky said...

I never read that post since I am newer to your blog but thank you for reading it. I have donated blood for many years because of thought that one day I, someone close, or anyone really will need it. That was a great think you did.

Lj82 said...

Beautiful post and a beautiful reading. You speak from the heart and that speaks volumes. Anr d the piece in the beginning, about wanting you life to have changed because of her... Of wanting to know her life didn't come and go with no lasting imprint on this world. It's so true, it's my biggest fear.

I didn't know Margot donated her heart valves, but I admire is so very much. I consider that to be Jack's legacy (though it was his liver), and I love that Margot and Jack live on not only through their families, but also through the gifts they gave.

Fireflyforever said...

I hadn't read this post but hearing you read it was very powerful. An amazing tribute to your beautiful family.

still life angie said...

I remember that post. Just beautiful. Such a gorgeous idea that we take on those that generously give. I loved hearing you read it, such a tenderness, as Jeanette said. Love to you and Kari, as always. xo

Brooke Kind said...

thanks for sharing this josh. it took me back to those days in the hospital and those precious moments when i was able to hold margot and say hello and goodbye to her. she was so sweet. tears are streaming down my face and my heart aches for her. missing her with you guys everyday. love you so much. b

Mary Beth said...

Beautiful post! So powerful. I loved the part where you wrote that you wanted to hug the old men donating platelets. Glad you joined in--I am late in watching/commenting on so many vids, so you're not late at all to me :)

Sending love to you guys from my coast to yours.
xo

Groves said...

Straight to the heart. I have not forgotten this post since I first saw it.

Your voice joining this community, as a man enduring grief, matters more than you probably guess. Valuable and insightful perspective.

The love you have for Kari and Stella and Margot is so very clear.

Cathy in Missouri

brianna said...

This was a great written post and even better hearing it from you. Seriously Josh, you have such a talent for words.

Catherine W said...

I've had your words in my head all day as I listened to this post early this morning, was summoned off to play cars with Jessica and am only now, this evening, coming back to comment.

I had a similar feeling when I went to give blood, wanting somebody to ask me what I was doing there, wanting to tell them the whole story and why I thought donating blood was even more important now.

There is something so touching, so achingly tender in the older folks donating platelets, all that older blood saving younger lives including your beloved wife.

I guess I'd be off the list for donating in the US as I've lived all this time in the UK, I suppose we just take our chances with mad cow disease. And J will never be able to donate blood here having been a recipient. It is a fascinating process to my mind, I'm eternally grateful that so many people give blood to help others, others who they'll probably never even meet. A strange, anonymous, compassionate loop. All those people who saved my little girl's life and helped to give my other daughter a chance. Odd to think that I'll never meet them, never thank them.

Remembering your dear Margot June, she has changed the lives of so many rippling out from the recipients of her heart valves, their families, everyone who knows and loves the lives she saved and all of those people who will know and love them in the future, everyone who knows you, Kari and Stella, everyone who reads, and now listens, here xo

Stefanie said...

Thank you for posting and blogging (I guess now I can say...vlogging). It is so wonderful to hear from a husband and dad's point of view. Funny how sometimes we keep our stories quiet and other times we just can't help our selves. Thank you for sharing.

Holly said...

I enjoyed hearing your words and visiting your blog. I haven't been here before. I love how sweetly you talk of Margot.

Hope's Mama said...

Amazing to read, even more amazing to witness. You're a great guy, Josh.
We both used to be blood donors, but Simon has been lazy of late. Might show him this post. I'm too iron depleted from three back to back to back pregnancies, but once my levels pick up again, I will be back. I will think of you when I'm there. And Margot, and Kari.
Thank you so much for taking part. For someone so new to this awful club, you bring so much. I am so glad you're here, even though at the same time I hate that you are.
xo

Sarah St. Onge said...

This is absolutely gorgeous.

How wonderful to hear from a man's perspective of baby loss.

Thank you for participating.

michelle said...

I didnt have the guts to do the spoken word, koodo's to you. I am not in the same country but have as well learned the value of blood because of my son and me. I hemmoraged severely 3 days after delivery.I am glad you donated xo

Josh Jackson said...

Thank-you to everyone for your kind words and to many of you, for reading your own stories about loss and love and grief. We have something good going here, collectively, even though I'm sure all of us would rather be in another kind of less heartbreaking club.

loribeth said...

Just listened to this now at home. I remember when you posted it, & it's so nice to be able to add a voice & face to the amazing words. Thanks for doing this!

Rachel said...

Great post and thanks for being brave and reading it for us! I agree, there is something good going on here, even though I hate saying that because nothing is GOOD about our babies dying.

Laura Beck said...

Josh!
I really connected with your piece.
I too was saved by a blood transfusion.
and my son needed a platelet transfusion as well.

I can tell that you are a kind and gentle soul. It's lovely to meet you but not under these circumstances.
I wish you have your Margot, and me my Truman.
Sending love to you

Jessica said...

Obviously I am very late to watching this. I think I remember you commenting on my vlog but I'm not sure...either way I am so very sorry for your loss. Your words are beautiful and I am glad I was able to hear them. It is not often that I see father's blogging about loss but you discuss your grief beautifully (however beautiful such a sad thing can be)...thank you for sharing. I came upon this after reading your Right Where I Am post just now. Much love to you and your family <3

Post a Comment

Slideshow