This miscarriage sketch illustrates what words can not
September 2016
We understand that one of the hardest parts about tackling the taboo around miscarriage and sharing your experience of loss is knowing how to put it into words.
Many of you sharing your stories in our Book of #misCOURAGE talk about struggling to find words that can do justice to what you are feeling, and what you are going through.
Curtis Wiklund has recently experienced this dilemma and so put pencil to paper to draw a sketch which has since gone viral.
Curtis and his wife Jordin were told the devastating news at their first ultrasound that their baby had stopped growing at six weeks, and that there was no heartbeat.
As they sat in their car together to let the news sink in, Curtis and Jordin held each other and cried before driving home.
Miscarriage is by far the biggest cause of pregnancy loss in the UK with 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in this pain. It is also the least understood; suffering a miscarriage can be a very sad, scary or lonely experience and is often overlooked or ignored as an issue
Curtis felt the need to commemorate what had happened to him and Jordin following their loss.
“It was an instinctive reaction to grief I think. Some people need to go for a run or do something physical, some people need to write music or paint, I felt like I needed to document the experience as accurately as I could.”
After finishing the sketch he felt strongly that he should share it.
“It felt important for some reason. I hoped it would comfort others who are hurting.”
With Jordin’s approval Curtis shared his sketch to an outpouring of positivity via social media. People are showing support and love for the couple as well as sharing experiences of their own.
Jordin was initially unsure about sharing their news this publically but gave her blessing when she decided it’s important to acknowledge the difficult moments in life as well as the positive. She said,
“Miscarriage is a very lonely experience and if Curt’s sketch could help others feel the comfort I felt from friends knowing that I wasn’t alone then it was worth it to share it.”
Read our advice on how to support someone who has experienced a miscarriage.
Remember that you and your partner may experience your miscarriage differently. Read our information about the ways your partner may respond to miscarriage.