Something Happened

Something Happened

A Book for Children and Parents Who Have Experienced Pregnancy Loss This beautifully illustrated, simple, clear story is designed to help a young child understand what has happened when there has been a pregnancy loss. The book addresses the sadness that a child experiences when the anticipated baby has died. The child's fears and feelings of guilt are addressed as well as other confusing feelings. Perhaps most important, the book includes the family's experience of going on with life while always remembering their baby. The child reading the book is left with a sense of reassurance that life continues and he is still a vital part of a loving family Cathy Blanford, has had over 20 years of experience working with grieving children. This work began in the 1980s when Cathy started Positive Care, a program for HIV+ children who were orphaned or separated from their birth families. As a part of her position with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Cathy found homes for the children and supported both the children and their families through the grieving process when a number of the children and their birth parents died due to AIDS. Cathy's work with grieving people continued in hospice. She served with Elmhurst Memorial Hospice in Elmhurst, IL as a chaplain and bereavement coordinator. Cathy founded and directed the Children Grieve Too grief groups at Elmhurst Memorial Hospice. She then founded and is currently directing the Tommy's Kids Support Group at St. Thomas Hospice in Burr Ridge, IL. Cathy is also currently serving as a bereavement consultant for Still Missed, a support program for families who have experienced pregnancy loss. This program is a part of the Adventist Hinsdale Hospital in Hinsdale, IL. Cathy wrote Something Happened after seeing the need families have to explain a sudden infant loss to their surviving children. Cathy has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Development from Erikson Institute in Chicago, IL.