In this deeply moving episode, Kara shares her infertility story and her journey through infertility, multiple rounds of IVF, and the devastating stillbirth of her daughter, Haley, at 38 weeks. A 44-year-old single mom to two living children, Kerrigan and Connor, and a full-time realtor in the Annapolis, MD area, Kara opens up about what it’s like to balance everyday life, motherhood, and parenting after loss while carrying lifelong grief.

She walks us through her pregnancies—conceiving Kerrigan through IVF, experiencing twin loss when Kerrigan’s sibling died early in pregnancy, and then being closely monitored in her pregnancy with Haley due to concerns about fertility, growth, and past complications. Just two days after being told she would have a “healthy, beautiful baby,” Kara noticed a big, painful movement followed by heartbreaking stillness. She describes the fear of not feeling kicks, the desperate attempts to get Haley to move, and the devastating silence in the hospital when no heartbeat could be found.

Kara talks honestly about the traumatic birth, the difficult medical decisions no parent should ever face, and the shock of postpartum recovery after a stillbirth—enduring all the physical changes with empty arms. She shares how her family lovingly dismantled the nursery before she came home, and how every bill, empty room, and quiet moment reminded her of all she had lost.

Years later, Kara is still navigating the long-term effects of infertility, memories of repeated IVF treatments, and the emotional complexities of pregnancy after loss. She reflects on the pain of fewer people remembering important dates over time, and the ways she keeps Haley’s memory alive—visiting her grave, releasing butterflies on her birthday, and allowing herself “scheduled grief time.”

Through vulnerability, healing, and remarkable resilience, Kara shows that we don’t “get over” loss or infertility; we learn to live with love and grief side by side. Her story is one of enduring strength, continuing hope, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.