Grief, Faith, & Growing Your Family After A Life-Limiting Diagnosis | Episode 197 with Monica Harris

Episode 197

"When God doesn't give a miracle..."

Monica Harris joins me for this episode to share her motherhood journey and her experience receiving a life-limiting diagnosis for her son Vance as well as the news that she and her husband were carriers for a genetic condition that could result in a similar diagnosis in future children.

At the time of our recording Monica was 37 weeks pregnant with a daughter who was also given a difficult diagnosis – prayerfully not a diagnosis that would limit life but difficult and complex nonetheless. Knowing this makes my time with Monica and her words that much more powerful – when she talks about what it looked like to pray for a miracle and for God to not give that miracle– about this she says: “He's good God, but He's not always going to say yes.” and we talked about her pregnancy right now, she said this: “I like to be in control, but this time I have no control. Just praying and believing that God will take us through whatever comes.”

We spend some time talking about:

what it was like to receive that life-limiting diagnosis for her son Vance
how to navigate when the plan you have for your family doesn’t turn out the way you had ever imagined
navigating a pregnancy after loss
navigating the medical aspect to a life-limiting diagnosis and high risk pregnancy after loss
friendships after loss
what she wishes others knew about grief and how to help a mom who is grieving.

This is a beautifully tender and honest interview with a mom who is still in a season of waiting, of anticipating, of navigating the unknown but her faith will encourage you – I know it encouraged me.

QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS

How has grief impacted the different aspects of your life?
What are some misconceptions around receiving a life-limiting diagnosis you would like to dispel?
What has been the most challenging aspect of this journey and what was helpful as you navigated those challenges?
You said to me: “life isn’t perfect.” Tell me more about what that means to you in this season.
Tell me what it was like to make the decision to try to grow your family after losing your son?
What has pregnancy after loss been like for you?
What wisdom would you give to a mom who has experienced another difficult diagnosis?
You said to me: “sometimes we don’t get our miracle but God is still with us” – tell me more about that.
Any words of wisdom for a mom who is thinking about trying to conceive or is pregnant after loss?
What have you learned about navigating the medical aspect of this journey?
Tell me what it has been like to navigate friendship after loss? What challenges have you faced?
What do you wish those who love a grieving mom understood about this journey of loss and grief?

Meet Monica

Hello, I’m Monica. I’m a Jesus lover, wife to Chris and Mum to Miller, Cole, Wilkes, Vance (in heaven) and baby girl on the way. We live in Sydney, Australia. My work background is Marketing but I have been raising kiddies for the past 8 years. Since covid, I’m now studying Masters of Primary Teaching online. In my spare time I love baking, indoor plants and reading.

Connect with Monica on Instagram: @mon.harris