The Story Behind The Viral Photo
Over the last week or so I have had countless people share the above photo with me. After one look, I immediately knew the meaning behind this picture — but had I not just lost my sweet boy, Johnathan, at 17 weeks pregnant I would have thought it was just a pretty, colorful picture with a bunch of mommas and preggo ladies.
This photo represents so much more than that. There is a hidden pain and a palpable joy. Although you see the smiles on each of these women’s faces, you know the sorrow they carry in their heart is real; perhaps you see that most from the pregnant lady in red.
So What Is It With This Photo
I had a chance to chat with Alex Little, the photographer behind the photo. I asked her what inspired her to take this photo? Here’s what she had to say:
I had my daughter, Haven, in March of this year. I was a part of a lot of online soon-to-be mom groups. I was seeing a lot of miscarrying and even a few losses after birth. I was terrified to say the least. Anxiety was at an all time high. After having her, I learned of the term “rainbow baby.” I just couldn’t help but be drawn to it. Some of my close photographer [and] local mom friends–2 in the photo-shared with me that they were rainbow moms. [They shared] how much they struggled and the heartache. I felt like nothing has ever been done and this subject is so brushed under the rug — because well, it’s loss. No one wants to talk about that stuff. I wanted to make a statement so I went to Facebook asking for friends to tag anyone they knew who is a rainbow mom. I then chose 6 unique stories — covering the loss spectrum from multiple losses, stillborn, and one mom told the world for the first time with this image. I wanted these moms to represent a bunch of women across the world…and they did.
They certainly did. These women and this photo represents ME. If I handn’t already connected with this photo and it’s meaning, I certainly do now. Since I suffered from the loss of my sweet boy last summer I have made it my personal mission to destigmatize pregnancy and infant loss. There’s no doubt that losing my son was the most painful thing I’ve ever had to endure, yet it is supposed to be — like Alex said — just swept under rug because no one wants to talk about it. It’s uncomfortable and no one knows what to say. Needless to say, I felt so ALONE after my loss.
1 In 4 Women Suffer From Pregnancy and/or Infant Loss
What an alarming statistic. 1 in 4 (and some say 3!) women will have to endure the most horrific experience that no woman should ever have to go through in her lifetime: she will lose her unborn child or her newborn infant will die soon after birth. How do people just brush this under the rug?!
I’m a registered nurse and have worked in labor and delivery for years; even I didn’t realize that this alarming statistic was real. No one talks about it. And because no one talks about it a lot of these women feel just like I had — they feel like they have to suffer with the most heart-wrenching pain all alone.
After posting my first blog (which was really just a form of therapy for me) I received countless messages of women sharing their stories (some for the very first time). It is absolutely heartbreaking to think that any woman would go through this terrible loss alone. That’s when I decided I would be open about my loss and my journey to getting pregnant again. I decided that WE could get through this together. Fast forward to a few months later and this photo touched me in a way that I cannot put into words. To me, this photo represents HOPE, FAITH, and LOVE. And that’s just what I need at this time in my life. 🙂
The Photo Goes Viral
Clearly, I am not the only one who felt such a huge connection to this photo. I asked Alex what kind of response this photo had after she posted it on her Facebook.
Within an hour it had 1000 likes. We were OVER THE MOON. Over night [it reached] 4,000 ‘likes,’ and by 24 hours 10,000 ‘likes.’ So far, it’s been featured online with Huffington post, Cosmopolitan, The Today Show, Inside Edition, Women’s day, Scary Mommy and that’s just a portion. It’s been aired in almost every state plus countries including Canada, Brazil, Sweden, Germany, and Australia. The photo itself currently has 25k likes and 19k shares! Here is the insane part…Facebook has a feature called “reach” to show you how many people actually saw it on their feed. The photo has 3.7 million. I don’t even have words to explain how happy that makes me. 3.7 MILLION people got to see this shot and hopefully learn a little something about what women go through with loss.
This touches my heart in a way that it hasn’t been touched in a while. To know that so many women saw the HOPE, FAITH, and LOVE that I saw makes me feel SO GOOD — and it isn’t even my photo! 🙂 It’s amazing to think that just maybe this helped some women begin a healing conversation or bring a smile to their face. The thought of this makes my heart happy. And again, it isn’t even my photo! 🙂
Message to Angel Mommies And Rainbow Mommas
I asked Alex to please share a message with all of us angel mommies and Rainbow mommas. I really love what she had to say and I hope you do, too. 🙂
DO NOT GIVE UP. Do not lose hope if you are still trying! Celebrate your angel, they are the reason why you have your rainbow. These moms went through the worst and best thing possible, but in the end they all have one thing in common and that’s motherhood. Embrace it! Embrace your journey, [even if] it was super tough or full of tears! You’ve got this.
I have stayed up every night reading story after story and each night I am brought to tears. By my one single photo I have brought thousands — if not more — women together who would not normally ever come together. Through all the politics and darkness in our newsfeed lately this photo was truly a light for everyone!!
Ain’t that the truth! Thank you SO much Alex for sharing this beautiful photo with us all! I think I can speak on behalf of all of us angel mommies and rainbow mommas, you have touched our hearts and given us faith and hope!
It’s been so therapeutic for me to be able to share my story. It makes the loneliness from trying to hide the pain go away. And when I hear your stories, advice, and success of having your rainbow baby after loss it gives me hope and inspiration as I try for my rainbow baby. These women in the photo have shared their stories with me and I will be sharing them with you in several blogs over the next couple of weeks. If you don’t want to miss these and you want to stay connected subscribe to my mailing list.
Spread The Message
Alex has told me she would love nothing more than to have her photo featured in a magazine and on Ellen. I can’t think of anything better, myself. Let’s help her make this dream come true (and by doing so we will be helping women everywhere)! Please share this photo and it’s meaning.
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