Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Strong Start Day 2011- PostPartum Progress


For those of you who follow me, you know I've written often of my fight to overcome Post Partum Depression seventeen years ago.

I never would have made it out of that nightmare without the help of a Post Partum Depression group that worked out of the hospital where I gave birth. It was a professional there who literally held my hand and pulled me out of the dark sea that my life had become.

While others told me I had to get out more, sleep more (uh...no kidding...) and even that all I needed was "a new dress." I'm sure they meant well, but they did not understand. People who know, people who understand, realize that ways to be connected to those that get it, are what's needed. 

Because of professionals, and their knowledge of what I needed, I survived, and am here today to spread the word of StrongStart 11.

I want to ask you for your help and support for a newly founded non-profit organization. This post is for Strong Start Day, for Katherine at Post Partum Progress, who reports that only 15% of all women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders ever receive professional treatment.

Her mission: Postpartum Progress Inc. (PPI) to improve the health and well being of women and children by increasing access to and quality of support for women with postpartum depression and other mental illnesses related to pregnancy and childbirth.

There are many women at this moment, right now, who have no one.

Awareness is key, being knowledgeable of resources is key, extending a hand is key. Knowing where to go, is key.

I love the awareness that social media is able to create.

This PPD slayer of a woman, Katherine Stone, of PostPartum Progress, tirelessly works and cares about PPD and helping people pull through, by providing information, resources, building a hub of connections.  She has built a community of love and support for women, @postpartumprogr on twitter, hashtag #PPD #PPD chat  #PPD army, for anyone to find someone at any time. We no longer have nowhere to turn.

Please take note of this organization, of Katherine and her website, keep this information in your pocket to hand to someone who is grasping for that hand.

Donate to Postpartum Progress. Visit Katherine's site--see what she does there, daily, for so many.

There is so much more that needs to be done, but funding is necessary to do this lifesaving work. And Katherine can't do it alone.

Whether you’re currently fighting your own battle, have survived, or are fighting along side someone else for their life, please think of donating, so that Katherine can reach these PPD goals:

 What $30k in donations to Postpartum Progress can do:
  • Develop a compelling national awareness campaign for postpartum depression
  • Create and distribute new and improved patient education materials for distribution by hospitals
  • Translate our English information and support into Spanish and other languages

I'll be donating, because the memory of my PPD experience is still so frighteningly fresh, even though it was 17 years ago.

I will never forget how it felt. 


DonateNow
Every little bit helps.

THANK YOU, Katherine! 
_________________________________________________

28 comments:

  1. I have survived...and I am surviving...and I will continue to after the birth of my third in less thank six weeks. What a wonderful organization you found back at your hospital, and thank you for making me aware of this one too. Hugs.

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  2. So thankful for you, and for the people who helped you 17 years ago.

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  3. Now I love you even more! I had PPD after my son was born. It was really horrible and I too know first hand how IMPORTANT it is to get help! This is so very essential!! Thank you!

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  4. nice...you are changing lives with your story empress....

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  5. Awesome. I think so many women goes through this and just feel lost, empty and alone. It's confusing when you hear things like, "baby blues" or hormonal imbalance. Pregnancy and birth are life changing...body changing events.

    Awesome, post, I'm going to check it out and spread the word!

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  6. Awareness is key. Can you imagine the women who suffered with this, before it became as known as it has? What they must have endured!

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  7. Thank you for telling your story , for helping others....I am donating in Kimberly's name tonight and with you and Katie in my heart. Xoxo

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  8. As always, your generosity is truly inspiring.

    I love how you use this space and am humbled by the efforts, time, words and heart you share to help others.

    Just wonderful.
    Really.

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  9. Thank you all for reading this post here today.

    I hope you are able to read at least a few more linked up PPD stories.

    Some are encouraging, some are frightening, some are incredible...all are inspiring.

    I am donating, something I do in gratitude for the professional services I was blessed to receive, and for those: who are just praying for a chance.

    How wonderful that perhaps, I will provide them with that chance.

    Thank you.

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  10. You're wonderful, and so is Katherine. This is such an important cause, I hope many will contribute in any way they can.

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  11. LOVE when the blogosphere is used for good - great post.
    Awesome cause, it helps so many, and so many are lost and alone.
    Lovely job here :)

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  12. You are such an outstanding voice for this issue, Alexandra. Thank you for sharing this.

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  13. This is so important. So many times we think we're alone... it's not true. Thanks for this awareness and also for the people who were there when you needed them.

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  14. Thank you all for commenting, and I hope you visit Katherine's site: you'll be amazed at what she has done for PPD and families of PPD.

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  15. Did it. I hope you raise lots of needed $$ this way. I've also saved Katherine's site info.

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  16. This is such a wonderful cause. Thank you for sharing your story and opening your heart.

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  17. Beautifully put. I'm taking a little time after posting my own stuff to link up tonight to catch up on the posts for Strong Start today!

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  18. How wonderful that they have such amazing organizations out there for folks who need help. Thank you...

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  19. I love this and it's so essential. I don't know if you remember (or if I said) but I too struggle/struggled with PPD and awareness will go a long, long way to help out all of our mothers.

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  20. It is so brave and good of you to talk about this because there are women reading your words who need to hear it. Glad this is happening.

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  21. A great cause Empress. You are using your blog for great things!
    Dana

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  22. Oh my gosh, I went through this, too. I felt like I was going insane, and there wasn't anybody who could help me. I feel like people WANT to help, but without having been through it, even if they're a medical professional, they just have NO IDEA what they're really dealing with.

    I received a tiny bit of "education" from my doctor and hospital about what to do if I started feeling depressed. They said that if I noticed that I was feeling aimless, weepy and unhappy, I should tell my doctor. But, I wasn't feeling those things. I felt like I was crawling out of my skin.

    What you're doing with Postpartum Progress is so important. If more women what it means to have PPD, from the weepy to the anxious to the angry to the terrified, they'll be able to get the right kind of help. You're awesome.

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  23. Thank you, Alexandra, for sharing your story, building awareness and changing perspectives!

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  24. Thank you, to all of you, who took the time to read this, comment, and I know you'll pass this information on.

    Please, if you see a new mom, or a mom of a newborn, struggling, or being "iffy", ask her how she is.

    It will make all the difference in the world to her.

    Thank you.

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  25. I adore how strong you are in speaking out on this issue. Woman writing on the internet are saving lives. xo.

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  26. Thanks for sharing this. Awareness is so important, and it's so important for new moms to know there is help and that what they're experiencing is more common than they think.

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  27. I'm finding that more and more women are speaking out about this now. This is the 2nd post I've read this week on PPD (sorry to be late!). You were always right there in pushing this important topic out there!

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