Days of our Lives star Jen Lilley (Theresa Donovan) has taken to social media with a heartbreaking personal story: she suffered a miscarriage.
The actress chose to share her emotional experience on National Infant Loss Day in what she says is "a post unlike any other post I've ever posted." The message, which she shared on Instagram, also gives some happy news about the actress' current situation with her adopted two-year-old son.
"Today is October 16, 2018 and it's a mix of emotions for me," she begins. "You see, Oct 16, 2018 marks the first day my son is truly legally untethered from this biological family. While bio parental rights were terminated months ago, today is the first day he's no longer at risk of being taken from the only parents he's really ever known because the appeals period has officially passed!!!! Being mommy to this little boy for the past 2 years and some odd weeks has been the most wonderful and transformational experience of my life. He's made me cry harder than I've ever cried, pray more fervently than I've ever prayed, opened up an impossible depth of empathy for his biological momma, crafted me into a real momma bear, made me laugh harder than anyone's ever made me laugh, and made me appreciate my husband more than I ever have."
However, Lilley shares that the day marks a sad experience for her, as well.
"THE BITTERSWEET: yesterday was my due date. Wait what? Yes, like 1 out of every 4 women, I've miscarried. When it happened, I was devastated and felt so alone. I was 12 weeks along, just a week from telling my family, and beyond excited. I remember talking with my mom who said I had to tell my siblings because they needed to know I actually experienced heartache too, and I wasn't picture perfect. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I remember retaliating. I'm a #fosterparent mom. My life is hard and I cry every day for these sweet innocent children I love with every drop of me but have zero say over their legal fate until adoption presents itself... They know my life isn't easy. Plus, this is the whole reason people wait til the second trimester to break the good news. So what, now I'm supposed to call them up and say, hey don't get excited. I'm not pregnant, I just needed you to know I was!? Now let's have an awful awkward and terribly sad conversation about my dead baby. I got off the phone and thought about it for a while."
She continues: "Then I realized, I will tell my siblings. But not because that somehow makes me less of a Stepford wife (which I know that's not how my siblings see me, but thanks for that one mom), but because one in four women experience miscarriage. And maybe if we talked about it, we'd realize we're not alone. I thought, one day I'll talk about this in an interview, and for that reason, my family and very close friends should know so they're not reading about it in the press. (Or Instagram post) But I share this news so you, yes you reading this know, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Miscarriage is sad, but it's not something we need to cover up or feel shame about."
Lilley's brave message about her miscarriage comes hot on the heels of another soap star's heartbreaking miscarriage reveal. Just last month, Melissa Claire Egan (ex-Chelsea Lawson, The Young and the Restless; ex-Annie Chandler, All My Children) shared that she suffered a miscarriage at eight weeks into her pregnancy. To read her personal message to fans, click here.
What do you think about Lilley bravely sharing her miscarriage experience so others who've suffered miscarriages don't feel alone? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
