KATHY SCHIAVONE

Picture: Eric and Kathy Schiavone about 4 years ago. I chose this picture, because it is one of my favorites. We went apple picking in New England with my parents. My father, who is always interested in a good picture, told us to sit on the display. It turned out so wonderful. (By the way, that is when I first cut my hair- I have gone much shorter since then.)

I was born in South Carolina. I am the third child of all girls. My sisters are only 10 months apart. My dad and mother met and married within 90 days, and have been happily married now for 35 (+/-) years.
My father was in the military. I have had the luxury of living across the United States and then some. I have lived in VA (Norfolk and Portsmouth), Maryland (Gathersburg (sp?- I was 3) and Pax River), Alaska, Washington State, Spain, and Rhode Island. Because of the military, I have had the chance to travel the world. When we moved to Alaska, it gave us the opportunity to drive across the country. There are only a few states that I have not been too yet. I got the opportunity to graduate high school in Spain. While overseas, I traveled to Morocco, Portugal, and throughout Spain. I also got the opportunity to visit my parents while they were stationed in Japan.

My father got stationed to Newport, RI to attend the War College in 1989. I had just graduated high school and wasn’t sure yet what I wanted to do. I took a year off and worked. I met my dear husband at the age of 17. (He has an identical twin and they are the first of four boys-total including them). He was working at the same department store while he was attending the University of RI. It was like love at first sight. We became the best of friends and started to date. My parents at that point got stationed to Japan. I decided to stay in RI and go to school. Eric and I became engaged in 1990 and married in 1993. We lived in RI/MA for the next 4 years.
In 1997, we moved to Memphis, TN (my father’s last duty station-where he retired) to be closer to my family and hopes of a better cost of living. We arrived in Memphis and found jobs immediately. Eric is an art director/graphic designer for a printing company. I work for a Mortgage/telemarketing (for mortgage only) company. I am a project coordinator. We had our first home built in 1998 and moved in July.

In October 1998, we decided that it was time to have children. We went off the pill and tried for a full year to get pregnant. In November 1999, we found out that we were going to have a baby. At 12 weeks (December 27th), we went to hear the delightful sounds of a heartbeat and were crushed to find out that there wasn’t one. The doctor took blood to confirm his diagnosis (I didn’t know until the day after the u/s) of a molar pregnancy. On December 29th, I had the D&C and have not been the same since. I miss my baby. I don’t understand why this had to happen. I am angry that I have to go through all the blood treatments. I am angry that I don’t have to choice as to when I want to conceive again. Looking for positive results of this situation, we have committed to paying off debt, and Eric finishing computer programming courses to earn a better salary so that when we are blessed with a healthy baby, I can stay home and be a full time mom.

Eric and I enjoy the water. We have a boat and use it from Spring to Fall. We love to go camping and hiking. We have a tradition that every year on our anniversary, we go somewhere on a trip to celebrate it (It doesn’t have to be fancy- sometimes it is camping). I like to do crafts. I love to work in the yard. I like to mow the lawn, plant flowers, rake leaves, etc.

This support group has been a blessing. I am so glad Kelly M read my story and got me involved. I look forward to seeing everyone’s family and reading everyone’s story.