Last year, I connected with another writer through an online group. Not only were we both writing about infertility and loss, but I soon learned that author Traci McCombs and I have both lived in Washington D.C., Hawaii, and North Carolina. We actually moved to D.C. around the same time but didn’t know each other, even though we could have leaned on one another for support as we were both struggling to have babies. Since then, we’ve both shared our stories with the world through our writing.

In her new book My Miscarriage: And Other Uninvited Events, Traci writes: “I believe that most women struggling with infertility are doing it alone when they don’t have to.” I am so grateful that she poured out her personal story in this book. Traci candidly shared about her own expectations for starting a family and she writes about her struggles throughout the process.

My Miscarriage: And Other Uninvited Events chronicles Traci’s story of infertility and miscarriages, describing how these things are complicated by several other complex struggles in her life. Throughout her book, she weaves in the stories of infertility and loss that her friends and family members experience at the same time. Traci writes: “I am absolutely certain every single woman on this earth has a secret about her reproduction. I’m even more certain that these painful secrets only have power as long as they stay buried in the deepest caverns of our soul.”

I have personally found tremendous value in reading the writing of other women experiencing infertility and loss, and I was grateful that I read Traci’s book in the weeks following the loss of my own baby. We can learn from other people’s experiences, and we gain practical tips and encouragement for growing in our faith during a barren season. When we learn of other people’s experiences, we also lose the sense of isolation. Many of us initially feel like we are the only ones struggling when in fact, the statistics for infertility and pregnancy loss are surprisingly high.

I have enjoyed both reading her book and getting to know Traci through social media (we live on complete opposite sides of the world these days – I’m in Hawaii and she’s in Germany!) She is truly a team player – it’s evident throughout the story she tells in her book and in the way she collaborates with others across the internet. If you’re struggling with infertility or recurrent miscarriage, I highly recommend that you read My Miscarriage: And Other Uninvited Events and follow Traci on social media. You will be encouraged! I’m so grateful that she has shared her story and I believe that it will help many people.