Charleston Women Spring 2021

www. Char l es tonWomen . com | www. Char l es tonWomenPodcas t . com | www. ReadCW. com CW Change of a Dress HowOne Sisterhood Found Strength in a Special Garment W hile social media typically presents the perfect picture of conception, pregnancy and motherhood, it simply isn’t the reality for many, or dare I say most, women. The real stories are often never heard, because sharing the hard truths and trying times carries the risk of vulnerability and, sadly, even judgement from others — yet these are the stories that need to be told. These are the true accounts of courage and faith through adversity that make us all feel a little less broken. Despite a secondary infertility diagnosis, disappointing early losses and incredibly low odds, I was blessed with a second healthy pregnancy. My body had overcome the odds to give my heart what it so deeply desired, and I had never felt more beautiful. In my maternity photos, I adorned my growing baby bump with an elegant floral wrap gown, and in that moment, I remembered feeling both blessed and honored to be given the opportunity to carry this little miracle. But what isn’t shown in that photo — what can’t be seen in that snapshot of joy — are the moments of disappointment and heartache leading up to that moment of gratitude, when all I wanted was to be seen in my darkness, accepted with my brokenness and pushed toward the light. On the other side of the pain, I Jenny BY J ENNY HARR I SON Photo by J enne Ann Photography. feature