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26: Building a Legacy of Hope

Matt Edmundson

Today’s Guest: Jessica Weeks

Jessica Weeks is the founder of Hannah's House, which is a charity based in the West Midlands that provides refuge for families who have experienced any kind of baby loss.

Jess and her husband Andrew set up the charity after the death of their baby daughter Emelia in 2017, which happened when their eldest daughter Hannah was only two. Since then, they have also experienced further miscarriages, as well as adding two beautiful boys to their family.

Jessica’s story is one of triumph over grief, and has featured widely in local and national media. Her charity work for Hannah's House has also received awards recognition by professional organisations including Ladies First Professional Development and Woman Who.

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Here’s a summary of this week’s story:

  • Jessica grew up in a Christian family and made a commitment to live for Jesus at a young age but later backslid and made poor life decisions. After meeting a lady from a local church during a cigarette break, Jessica went to church and met the Holy Spirit, leading her to turn her life around, start Bible college, marry her partner and find her faith again.

  • Jessica experienced a miscarriage soon after her honeymoon but found comfort in God's love during her grief. It took several months to get pregnant again and she struggled with feelings of anxiety and loss of control. She eventually became pregnant and felt God's peace throughout the pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter who had complications during delivery but is now a blessing in her life.

  • She and her husband decided to try for another baby and were surprised to become pregnant only two weeks later. On her second scan, she received the news that her baby had severe fetal abnormalities and the doctor advised her to terminate the pregnancy, but she found strength through faith and decided to continue with the pregnancy.

  • Jessica found God's tangible presence during her pregnancy despite the diagnosis that her baby would not survive. She experienced physical and tangible changes in her baby, which she believes were miracles. Despite losing her baby within an hour after birth, Jessica felt God's peace throughout the journey.

  • She shares her experience of losing her baby, Emelia, and the founding of her charity Hannah's House. She also talks about how having another baby brought up the past grief.

  • Jessica initially thought she had dealt with the grief, but the Holy Spirit revealed to her that she had not. With the help of a friend and counseling, she was able to begin her own healing journey and eventually become a counselor and established her charity to help others like her who had gone through the grief and loss of a baby.

  • She talks about the miracle of delivering her second son in her 40th year and how he was a tiny baby only about 20cm and just under a kilogram in weight but was born healthy and perfectly formed despite the odds.

  • The life lesson for Jessica through all her grief and loss has been that God always answers prayers, but it doesn't always come as we would want or expect. And even though there is hurt and pain this side of heaven, we can choose to heal and walk in God's peace.

Links & Resources from today’s story

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