Dear Diana Rose and Benjamin Wright

I love you!

I’ve never met you, but I love you!

I’ve never seen you or touched you, but I love you!

I’ve never carried you in my arms or felt you kick in my belly, but I love you!

I love you with ALL my heart!

You have always been in my heart and mind! I have longed to be a mother since I was a little girl playing with my dolls and Barbies. And you will stay in my heart and mind forever, where my dreams will remain . . .

I had big dreams for you both! We dreamed about what your lives could have been like . . . Diana Rose, I imagined you as a dancer, just like me! And just like your father, Benjamin Wright, I imagined you becoming a martial arts warrior! We both dreamed big for you, little ones! But it was never meant to be! We have never been pregnant, but you have ALWAYS been in our hearts! You will be in our hearts forever!!

When we named you, we chose family names. Diana Rose, you are named after our mothers, Diane and Rosemary. Benjamin Wright, you are named after our family—Benjamin was your father’s grandfather and Wright is my maiden name. We were so proud and excited to name you! It is a tangible reminder of our dreams and something to comfort us in our grief.

Instead of giving birth to you, raising, and teaching you, we try to move forward with our lives. It is not because we don’t love you! Quite the opposite! Because of our love for you, we want our lives to be full of joy and love—as a tribute to you, precious ones! We are choosing to find joy amidst the grief we feel over our childlessness. We choose to love you through volunteering in the high school ministry at our church. Chad loves you through mentoring the kids at his job.

We love you when we love our nieces, nephews, and other children in our lives! We pray this becomes our legacy of love for you!!

Diana Rose and Benjamin Wright, you are always on my mind and in my heart!

I love you!!

Mom

Jennifer Parrish