Helping Families Handle Pregnancy Complications
Tax deductible
Our Story
On February 22, 2021, my fiancé Erin and I learned that our twin pregnancy was non-viable and classified as a missed miscarriage. With a missed miscarriage, your body believes it is still pregnant even though the pregnancy fails to progress. Options to resolve a missed miscarriage are 1) wait two weeks to see if you miscarry, 2) take shots to attempt to miscarry on your own, or 3) go in for a surgical procedure called a DNC. If #1 and #2 fail to cause miscarriage you end up going in for a DNC anyways. We felt the shortest path with the least additional mental trauma was the DNC. One of the most surprising first calls I got was from a bills collector, providing me with my estimated payment due and offering to help me go on a payment plan. My initial bill, with excellent health insurance, was over $600, with more bills to arrive in the future. So now, in addition to the mental trauma of losing my new family, I also had to worry about paying for it. No family should need to worry about financial costs when going through any type of pregnancy complication.
The Fundraiser
In honor of my failed pregnancy, and all the women out there who have had to deal with this terrible situation, I am running the Seneca Greenway Trail Marathon on Saturday, March 13th. Due to the nature of my twin pregnancy, I have not been able to run very far for the past 7 weeks, which is going to make this a tremendously difficult task. I want to try to finish the marathon to recognize and honor every woman out there who struggled to keep moving after her miscarriage. It is unbelievably difficult to learn that your child is not going to make it into the world, and to pick up the pieces and move on afterwards. I want to show these women that we are not alone, we are strong, and we can do this.
We are so appreciative of our friends and family reaching out and asking how they can help. We are very fortunate that this terrible situation will not have lingering effects on us financially, and emotionally we are very hopeful that one day we can start a family again. The best way to help us at this time is to help us help someone else who is struggling more than we are. I am choosing to fundraise money for the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation because they help families with both the mental and financial effects of imperfect pregnancy. In addition to providing support groups and wellness, they also assist with costs associated with miscarriage, NICU stays, and infant burial.
I would like to kindly suggest that donors pledge $0.50 per mile for this 28 mile "marathon" ($14) or $1.00 per mile ($28). Any amount that can be spared during this tremendously difficult time is much appreciated.
More information about Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation: To improve outcomes of pregnancy, childbirth, prematurity, and infancy, as well as aid in the grieving process through financial assistance, education, and advocacy. Our flagship program provides financial assistance to families in crisis due to high-risk and complicated pregnancies, NICU stays, or loss.
On February 22, 2021, my fiancé Erin and I learned that our twin pregnancy was non-viable and classified as a missed miscarriage. With a missed miscarriage, your body believes it is still pregnant even though the pregnancy fails to progress. Options to resolve a missed miscarriage are 1) wait two weeks to see if you miscarry, 2) take shots to attempt to miscarry on your own, or 3) go in for a surgical procedure called a DNC. If #1 and #2 fail to cause miscarriage you end up going in for a DNC anyways. We felt the shortest path with the least additional mental trauma was the DNC. One of the most surprising first calls I got was from a bills collector, providing me with my estimated payment due and offering to help me go on a payment plan. My initial bill, with excellent health insurance, was over $600, with more bills to arrive in the future. So now, in addition to the mental trauma of losing my new family, I also had to worry about paying for it. No family should need to worry about financial costs when going through any type of pregnancy complication.
The Fundraiser
In honor of my failed pregnancy, and all the women out there who have had to deal with this terrible situation, I am running the Seneca Greenway Trail Marathon on Saturday, March 13th. Due to the nature of my twin pregnancy, I have not been able to run very far for the past 7 weeks, which is going to make this a tremendously difficult task. I want to try to finish the marathon to recognize and honor every woman out there who struggled to keep moving after her miscarriage. It is unbelievably difficult to learn that your child is not going to make it into the world, and to pick up the pieces and move on afterwards. I want to show these women that we are not alone, we are strong, and we can do this.
We are so appreciative of our friends and family reaching out and asking how they can help. We are very fortunate that this terrible situation will not have lingering effects on us financially, and emotionally we are very hopeful that one day we can start a family again. The best way to help us at this time is to help us help someone else who is struggling more than we are. I am choosing to fundraise money for the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation because they help families with both the mental and financial effects of imperfect pregnancy. In addition to providing support groups and wellness, they also assist with costs associated with miscarriage, NICU stays, and infant burial.
I would like to kindly suggest that donors pledge $0.50 per mile for this 28 mile "marathon" ($14) or $1.00 per mile ($28). Any amount that can be spared during this tremendously difficult time is much appreciated.
More information about Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation: To improve outcomes of pregnancy, childbirth, prematurity, and infancy, as well as aid in the grieving process through financial assistance, education, and advocacy. Our flagship program provides financial assistance to families in crisis due to high-risk and complicated pregnancies, NICU stays, or loss.
Fundraising team (2)
Kristen Serafin
Organizer
Germantown, MD
Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
Erin Kelman
Team member
