A Sea of Red and a Surge of Emotion
I just returned from a Go Red for Women event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana—and I’m still feeling the energy. The music was uplifting, the friendships deepened, and the stories? They hurt. But they inspired.
This event was designed to raise awareness about the staggering number of women who die from heart disease and stroke. And the truth is sobering:
More women die of heart disease than breast cancer. Yet we don’t talk about it enough.
When Women Unite, Big Things Happen
The room was electric—a sea of red with one shared mission:
- Educate
- Share stories
- Raise funds for life-saving research and procedures
Survivors took the stage and told their truths: the diagnosis, the fear, the recovery, and the acceptance of a new normal. Their strength was undeniable. But what happened next was pure magic.
Over 300 women transformed from strangers into a fierce sisterhood. As Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” played, survivors danced down the runway in a fashion show that turned advocacy into celebration. Everyone was on their feet. Everyone became a stronger advocate for women’s heart health.
The Unseen Parallels: Heart Disease and Childlessness
As I climbed back into my car, I couldn’t shake the emotion. What I witnessed wasn’t just about heart disease—it was about being seen, heard, and supported.
And it made me think: Sound familiar?
Childlessness, whether by circumstance or biology, is another silent struggle. It doesn’t come with built-in support. There are no automatic nods of recognition in a crowded room. Instead, we navigate:
- Baby showers we politely decline
- Mother’s Day gatherings we endure
- Daily reminders that the world expects women to be mothers
Building Our Own Sisterhood
But just like the women in red, we find each other.
We build quiet networks of support. We redefine fulfillment. We learn to see ourselves more clearly—even when the world doesn’t.
The tagline of my blog is: From infertility to acceptance in 147 easy steps. And the truth? There’s nothing easy about it.
Acceptance isn’t about making the world understand our experience. It’s about making peace with it ourselves—and finding the people who truly get it along the way.
Final Thought: We Survive
Whether it’s heart disease or childlessness, the journey is real. The pain is real. But so is the strength.
And just like the song says—we survive.
Modified from a post on World Childless Week,