Guest Author - Krissi Danielsson

One common theme among descriptions of post-miscarriage emotions is that of being alone. It's a silent suffering, or a lonely grief. It's not common that people talk a whole lot about miscarriages, although that's changing with time.

Laura Seftel, an artist who suffered a miscarriage in 1993, found a unique way to work through that pain.

"It was a profoundly painful experience, physically and emotionally, which took me very much by surprise," she said. "As an artist and therapist, my first impulse was to paint and write my way through the loss."

Seftel wondered if other women artists out there might be in the same boat. She suggested a group exhibition to the Northampton Arts Council, where she ultimately won a grant.

"I called the project The Secret Club, because it is rare that one gets to glimpse the hidden world of women quietly coping with miscarriages," she said.

Nine women joined the initial exhibit. As of today, the Secret Club Project has grown to a collection of artistry by over 40 artists, mostly women but also a few men. Each artist submits a statement with her or his work. The artwork travels to different cities around the nation, and Seftel has created a book with the images called, Grief Unseen: Healing Pregnancy Loss Through the Arts.

"The feedback so far has been amazingly positive," said Seftel. "Writing the book was a labor of love. I never really thought about the fact that someone would actually read it! But, to my surprise, it has been selling. I think it has tapped into something important in the world of pregnancy loss -- the healing power of the creative process."

Seftel also gives slide presentations of the artwork, with a talk about the pain of pregnancy loss, and the Secret Club Exhibit has appeared in multiple cities.

For more information about the Secret Club Project, visit its website at www.secretclubproject.org.

Note: To anyone reading who is the friend or relative of someone who has been through a loss, I would highly recommend considering Grief Unseen as a gift for your loved one.

Also, I am still looking for interviewees to fill out a survey for a miscarriage support book that I'm working on. This survey will collect responses that may be included in the book to give perspective from those who have been there. I very much appreciate any and all responses.