(excerpt of story written by Jenny's father Bob)
When Jenny found out in March that she was pregnant she seemed very happy, and friends and family were so excited too! Unfortunately, Jenny had a difficult pregnancy and she was sick for most of the first seven months, and also developed Bell's palsy that lasted a couple of months. As her due date approached, we made plans to come and stay for the first three weeks after Graham's birth. On Nov. 1st, 2007, Graham Gibbs Bankston was born at St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham. Everybody was so proud and excited.
Jenny was a real champ during delivery, but she struggled a bit with nursing and was reluctant to take Graham from the house for the first few weeks. She was also adjusting to not working, not getting much sleep, and having to care for her newborn. Other than that, things seemed normal and Graham got easier to care for as the weeks went by.
Then, out of the blue, on Dec. 19th, 2007, Jenny purchased a gun at a sporting goods store in Birmingham and at about 7:00 pm, she went to the backyard and took Graham's life and then her own.
We are so devastated and shocked by this tragedy that it was a real struggle to write this story. We hope that somehow it might inspire new mothers to seek help and treatment before something like this happens to them.
We are left with many great memories and the chance to help other families avoid having to go through what we are. With your help, Jenny's Light can make a difference.
Click here to read an in-depth article about Jenny's story. It is a very worthwhile read.
On December 19, 2007, Jennifer and Graham Gibbs Bankston tragically passed away. Jenny suffered silently with postpartum depression but her symptoms could have been detected and treated. Jenny's Light was created by her family to be a source of information, hope and inspiration. We strive to stop this type of tragedy from happening to others. The mission of Jenny's Light is to improve and save lives by increasing awareness of all perinatal mood disorders including postpartum depression.
Up to 80 percent of women experience minor sadness — the so-called baby blues — after giving birth, and about 10 percent plummet into severe postpartum depression. New mothers often feel tired and overwhelmed. They may be experiencing "baby blues." Women with baby blues may feel tired, weepy, and have no energy. However, the feelings that go with postpartum depression are stronger and longer lasting. A mother may not want to play with her baby. She may have trouble paying attention to things and may not be able to meet her baby's needs for warmth and affection. She may feel guilty or worthless.
You can't tell someone has postpartum depression by looking at her. A woman may look perfectly "normal" to everyone else. She may even try especially hard to look polished or put together - keeping her makeup done, and her hair styled - to turn attention away from the pain she is feeling on the inside. Postpartum depression is nobody's fault. There is nothing that a woman with postpartum depression could have done to avoid having this disorder. Having postpartum depression does not make someone a bad mother.
Postpartum depression can happen any time in the first year after a woman gives birth. The "baby blues" may last up to 4 weeks but usually goes away on its own. Like many illnesses, postpartum depression almost never goes away without treatment. The good news is that there are available treatments that work.
If you or someone you know needs help, click here to find resources available to help.
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Source: Jenny's Light
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