My Blog: Writing to Heal

I started blogging on Medium.com in June 2016, eight months after my daughter Poppy died.

I found solace in the community (and claps) that formed around me as I shared both my grief and my growth.

When the pain was unbearably isolating, my words always kept me company.

Many years later, an award-winning author and mindset life coach for women, I was forced to reach deep again when I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer at the tender age of 41.

My words helped me make sense of the cataclysmic events unfolding in my life.

Once again, I found comfort in the power of writing it all down. I hope you enjoy and find comfort in my words.

XO, Katie

Katie Joy Duke Katie Joy Duke

Leaning In For Support

Trying to make sense of stillbirth is exhausting. During our prenatal care, which I do believe was excellent, no one even mentioned the word.

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The First Night Home

We got home from the hospital around 6:00pm the day after Poppy was born. Our friend Kirsten drove us in our car. I sat in the front. Eli sat in the back next to the car seat. It was rush hour and when I saw all the cars driving to and from wherever they were coming and going I felt crushed. Didn’t they know my baby had died?

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When Grief Brews

I can’t sleep. I posted my first blog entry earlier this evening and although it’s unlikely anyone has read it, my mind won’t rest with all the stories I want to share.

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Our Little Poppyseed

Back in February my friend Bonnie contacted me through Facebook and asked me if I’d consider writing a monologue about Poppy’s birth story.

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Her name was Poppy Annabelle.

Hello World. My name is Katie and I’m starting this blog as a means to help me (and hopefully others) deal with the raw emotions of grief. On Monday, October 26, 2015, I gave birth to my first born child, Poppy Annabelle. She was stillborn. Her heart had inexplicably stopped beating at some point after our last prenatal appointment only days before.

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