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CUPCAKE FOR CHARITY, PART 3 (AKA a time for giving)

A quick recap: After many complications, hospitalisation and finally a diagnosis of a high risk pregnancy condition known as SCH, I returned home at 17 weeks pregnant to face full bed rest and living with the continued fear of losing my baby. I realised quickly that depression and feelings of hopelessness would not help my situation and that I needed to do something positive in order to turn things around. Giving. That was the key (the full story here). I knew that my baby might not make it, but that I could honour its life regardless of the outcome of my pregnancy. From my bed, I began to research causes and charities, gain perspective, feel inspired to make a difference and start to give a little. One charity a week, sometimes two, would receive a contribution in honour of my unborn baby (known as Cupcake) and family. It has been a life-changing exercise (from the very moment I was inspired to do this, my whole perspective shifted!) and I am forever grateful for the experiences I have had- yes, ALL of them, including the high risk diagnosis. I believe I have been given many gifts in all of this. Including one of time; time to reflect, to get things in perspective, to listen to the “voice of my soul” and to take action.
Here is the list of charities and causes that we have donated to on Cupcake’s behalf thus far:
J/P HRO
WSPA
March of Dimes
Animals Asia
Doctors Without Borders
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Sea Shepherd
The Lymphoma Research Foundation
The HER Foundation
Bliss via Saif’s Precious Star Fund
We have also made a contribution to a film project being undertaken by an old friend of ours to promote awareness in the fight to save the Giant Australian Cuttlefish.
and since my last update:
The Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Appeal
Movember
Animals Australia, Make it Possible campaign to end factory farming
Elisabethgården (crisis support for families)
Djurrattsalliansen (Animal Rights Alliance)
Stockholm Stadsmission (to support the homeless and vulnerable)
Saif’s Lighting up the Holidays Fund (to support Bliss, for babies born sick or too soon)
In light of recent events that make me sick to my stomach and heavy of heart (namely, the attacks on children in China and in the US), I have been looking for a charity/cause to donate to in order to not feel quite so disempowered about it all. I have looked at anti-gun violence organisations, mental health organisations and various others. I don’t know all there is to know about the ins and outs of either one of these events (the background stories/mental health of the perpetrators, the impact of gun/weapon laws and the politics associated, etc), only that children and those who work with them were targeted… and affected in the most hideous of ways. And so, I have been hesitant to donate to just any charity I come across, instead choosing to wait for the right one to be revealed. At dinner tonight, my dad served a soft drink and on its label I saw the logo for the World Childhood Foundation. The company that I work for has very close ties to the World Childhood Foundation (something I have been proud of since being employed there), so I am taking this as a sign that I am meant to donate next to this worthy pro-childhood charity (as opposed to an “anti-something” charity).
This is the crux of their mission statement, and something that resonated with me so completely when I looked at their website tonight:

Childhood

I look forward to making our next contribution to the World Childhood Foundation.
Making our most recent contribution was a real joy! Since coming across baby Saif’s story here on WordPress, I have literally sat and sobbed some nights about what he went through while he lived and the pain his parents still suffer. It became clear to me that I wanted to do what I could to honour his life too, knowing full well that “There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world“. I decided that my blessingway should be a celebration of womanhood, motherhood, life and gratitude and so, although I also included some more traditional baby shower activities, I wanted to focus on giving, rather than receiving. I had no gift register for myself/my baby, instead I laid out a table of potential prizes and gifts for my guests. In return for a small contribution (anything at all… even a few cents), my guests could go home with a lovely handbag/scarf/hat/necklace, etc also knowing that they had just contributed to Bliss, a charity that supports babies born prematurely (or with illnesses) and their families, via Saif’s Lighting up the Holidays Fund. Knowing that I am in the midst of a high risk pregnancy and all that entails (including the risk of delivering my baby prematurely), they were all keen to contribute… and the contributions were very generous. It was truly heartwarming.

Your legacy lives on, baby Saif

Your legacy lives on, baby Saif


Feeling as disempowered about recent highly-publicised tragic events as I do, fellow blogger Gallivanta asked me to participate in a global candlelight vigil, which of course I am more than happy to do. I truly believe that everything counts; every kind thought, every spark of positive, loving energy, every cent donated to a worthy cause in the spirit of caring… it ALL matters and ALL makes a difference. I think it is timely that we recently celebrated Lucia here in Sweden, the essential message being that light will always conquer darkness. I believe this to be true.

dove_candle

Please see:
CUPCAKE FOR CHARITY (AKA an exercise in gratitude & giving)
and
CUPCAKE FOR CHARITY, PART 2 (AKA changing the world DIY style)
for more details about the causes we are supporting and the stories that led to it happening.
Many, many thanks to all those out there who care, share and make a difference… in whichever ways they choose to do it. 🙂
 

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Comments

  1. This is wonderful. If only more people would take a personal difficulty as an opportunity to give back to others.
    My thoughts are with you as you await Cupcake, I hope everything goes smoothly.

    • Oh, thanks so much for the kind words and support :). I honestly felt I had no choice in the matter… It seemed my only “way out”. I remember very clearly hearing around the time I was diagnosed “If you want to be happy, make someone else happy” and it rang so true to me 🙂
      I don’t know if I had been diagnosed with something that had meant me needing to fight only for myself (and not an innocent baby too) whether I would have been able to turn things from negative to positive so quickly.
      All the very best to you too! 🙂 x

  5. You’re an amazing person!! Very few people would adopt your spirit and I love to see it. So beautiful, I know how scary it all must be for you. I had a scary pregnancy too and leaned deep to God and he carried me through…even through a very scary labor. I will definitely be praying for you! Great post…you are a beautiful lady!!

    • Oh, thank you so much! That is so very sweet and generous of you! 🙂 I am so, so glad that things worked out for you and your little one! Miracle happen 🙂 My best to you and yours xxx

  6. What you are doing is wonderful. I hope that you and your baby are fine now and that finally you give birth at term to a beautiful and healthy baby. Meanwhile your actions are helping to creat a better world and bring awareness to very important issues. Do you know the Ronan Thompson foundation? They work against childhood cancer.
    Good luck, love
    Giovanna

    • Thanks so much for the kind words and wishes, Giovanna! 🙂
      And thanks too for the tip about the Ronan Thompson Foundation! Will definitely look into it! I have a friend here who works with the Swedish Children’s Cancer Foundation (Barncancerfonden) and have also been wanting to donate to a cause supporting children/families affected by childhood cancer. Love back to you!

  8. Miss Marzipan,
    Good work on donating to so many charities! Sorry to hear about your nausea/stomach pain attack. Ugh! I know how that feels. I think maybe since our babies are so much bigger now, they are pushing down on everything which makes it harder to digest food. That’s my theory. 🙂 Hope you are feeling better. We are almost to the end!

  11. Thank you MMP for pointing me towards this page. Doctors Without Borders, Sea Shepard and the Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief are causes we also support. Animals Asia is joining that list today! Change can happen if we all help out, just a little. Bless you, your family and your cupcake.

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