After every storm...

I wanted to share with you all a paper/speech my 14 year old sister in law wrote about me for school. I was touched she thought of me out of all the inspiring women in the world. Thanks Claire!!

:After every storm comes a rainbow:

Someone once said, “It is understood that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of any storm.” The loss of a baby causes a storm. It turns your whole life upside down in  just an instant. Some see darkness at the end of the tunnel, but some see a rainbow after the storm. Laura, my sister-in-law, has faced physical and emotional challenges in her recent life due to a disease called Preeclampsia, a disease that leads to high blood pressure and possible maternal and fetal death. In 2009, Laura lost her unborn daughter, due to this disease.  She learned that sometimes when good things fall apart, better things fall together. Laura saw a rainbow in the distance and never stopped reaching for it. Here is her story.

Laura (Hunkele) Meindel was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 27, 1984. During her childhood, she enjoyed snow falls and sunsets in Illinois and Wisconsin. Laura has one younger brother, Paul, who has always been by her side. Laura attended Homestead High School and graduated in 2002. She then began college at Cardinal Stritch University in late 2002, that’s when she became part of my life. Within a few months of attending Cardinal Stritch, Laura met my oldest brother, Kyle. From that day on, Kyle and Laura were inseparable. After 5 years together, in October, 2008, they finally got married. They have been through good times, bad times, and everything in between, but they still see a rainbow after every storm.

I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. Their commitment to each other became surreal in May, 2009, when they learned that they were expecting a baby. Later, they were told it was a girl! We were all ecstatic! But, before long, the storm clouds began to form and the rain began to pour. November 16, 2009, became a day where an angel was created. There was no longer a heartbeat. Laura and Kyle’s rainbow disappeared into the clouds, the baby was soon pronounced dead. The next day, Laura had to do a very courageous and indescribable thing,  she gave birth to her still born baby. Her name, Cara Angel Meindel. Cara was 2 pounds, 11 ounces, and 16 inches long. That day, Kyle and Laura held an angel in their arms, their angel. Cara was, and is still, loved with a love beyond telling, missed with a grief beyond all tears, from this day forward and forever more.

During her pregnancy, Laura’s emotions were very high. She knew in her heart that something was wrong. She had the feeling that her pregnancy would be the beginning of an end. When the doctors neglected to find anything wrong, life became very stressful. A faith is a necessity to a man. Laura understood that the God above has a plan for each of us. In the end, Laura was right. Preeclampsia had robbed the life of her unborn baby. 

 Laura and Kyle overcame the loss of a baby. No two people should have to bury a baby together, especially at the youthful age of 25. As a parent, it's the worst thing imaginable. Their own child, suddenly gone. This case is special, though. Kyle and Laura never got to make memories with Cara. She was just unexpectedly gone. That was the hardest part of it all. After the loss, Laura did not only face emotional challenges, but she faced physical challenges as well. Laura eventually overcame the struggles of becoming emotionally and physically stable again.  

After Cara’s birth, she spent a week in the hospital with life threatening  blood pressures and failing liver and kidneys. Emotionally, Laura was dramatically affected. Her life was forever changed. She was on two different blood pressure medications while also taking three anxiety and depression medications. She never thought she would be the same or have the ability to be happy again. Surprisingly enough, Laura was able to bring a new baby home after the loss of Cara. In 2011, Kyle and Laura brought Carter home. They were blessed with a rainbow after their storm. Carter became the gift that never stops giving and a blessing from above.

 Laura eventually began to heal emotionally by blogging on a personal blog. She shared, and still shares, thoughts, feelings, and day to day events to keep friends updated on how life is going. She also began to connect with others who lost children, through a loss group in her area. These women and families went through the same struggles as Laura and it helped her to know she wasn’t the only one. Laura overcame her personal emotional issues by educating herself on Cara’s death and her own sickness, as well. She did research for days-on-end. Laura was determined to get a better understanding on why and how Preeclampsia had fallen upon them. Preeclampsia only affects 1 in every 1,858 people in the United States. She knew one thing for sure, though. This was that the mis-diagnosis and poor OBGYN care had a major part in the death of her daughter. Laura wondered, why them? 

In addition to all of this, Laura became a very active member and volunteer for the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia foundation -which is a walk to raise money and awareness for Preeclampsia. Team Cara raised over 2,500 dollars their first year. I am proud to say I participated in the Promise Walk  in 2010 and was part of Team Cara. Raising money and awareness was simple. We gave a few hours of our day to walk, listen, and to promote the Promise Walk. Finding a cure to Preeclampsia can be achieved if we all work together and aware more people of this life-threatening disease of pregnancy.

Laura had one goal set after she lost Cara. That was to help others. She began to share her uncensored feelings of her own loss through her blog. Telling others what it felt like to lose a child was a courageous move. Laura wasn’t concerned about how she felt, but instead, how her words would help others. As I said earlier, she continues to raise awareness on a daily basis by participating in walks and other events. Donating 5 dollars could potentially save a mother and her child. Participating in a walk could lead to a little girls first steps, a little girl like Cara.. When raising money and awareness to find a cure, every little bit truly helps.

Through out this journey, Laura has stayed strong. She is one of the most caring and determined women I know. She has overcome so much in a short 28 years. Laura never lost sight of the rainbow. She knew she could reach it if she never gave up. So, she never did. She showed me that you can always make it through a struggle if you have willpower and  strength of mind. Laura has become my inspiration and I love her so much. I could not imagine my life without her. 

The loss of a child can , and will, turn your world upside down in the twinkle of an eye. Mother’s go through so much to keep us, their children, safe and well. Be thankful for your life. Be thankful because some people never even got the chance at life. Remember, there is always a bright side to something no matter what happens. Don’t give up and keep reaching for your dreams.