On Santorum and Mourning a Stillbirth

A response to the 'weird' criticism of Santorum

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/01/05/partisan-politics-santorum-stillborn-baby/

I worked with families grieving stillborns for many years in regional care facilities and in the community. Each parent and family grieve very differently and in a society bereft of understanding regarding death and mourning, it is little surprise to find no understanding regarding the mourning of a stillborn son or daughter. Parents need closure and time to say good bye, a feat usually briefly accomplished in a hospital's cold and clinical setting: if the Santorums had the great grace of quietly saying good bye in their home, then they are the blessed ones: our society cannot possibly address in its hardheartedness the enormous strength of character it takes to live through the death of a stillborn, and to go on to maintain a healthy and strong marriage and family, and then even contend for the highest office of the land: it is a sign of character and fortitude. The decision to see and hold and say quiet good byes to the smallest member of the family is healthy, expected, and waylays later possible emotional problems: it is called 'closure' and is not weird nor odd, but an expression of love with tears and in my estimation a clear sign of a strong candidate who values life at all ages. Many blessings to a fine candidate.