Why James Van Der Beek wants to change the word ‘miscarriage’
Van Der Beek and his fourth daughter Gwendolyn INSTAGRAM
Ex-“Dawson’s Creek” star James Van Der Beek recently opened up about losing children with his wife Kimberly Brook due to the latter’s miscarriages.
On Instagram, the actor uploaded a photo of his wife and newborn child, Gwendolyn, their fifth. Married since 2010, James and Kimberly have four other children: Olivia, 8; Joshua, 6; Annabel, 4; and Emilia, 2.
James wrote in the caption, “Wanted to say a thing or two about miscarriages … of which we’ve had three over the years … First off—we need a new word for it. ‘Mis-carriage,’ in an insidious way, suggests fault for the mother—as if she dropped something or failed to ‘carry.’ From what I’ve learned … it has nothing to do with anything the mother did or didn’t do. So let’s wipe all blame off the table before we even start.”
James, currently starring in the TV series “Pose,” continued, “It will tear you open like nothing else. It’s painful and heartbreaking on levels deeper than you may have ever experienced. So don’t judge your grief, or try to rationalize your way around it. Let it flow in the waves in which it comes, and allow it its rightful space. Then, recognize the beauty in how you put yourself back together.”
Some changes that result from the loss can be “gifts,” according to the 41-year-old actor. “Many couples become closer than ever before [and] go on to have happy, healthy, beautiful babies afterwards.”
He then asked followers who could relate, “Please share whatever may have given you peace or hope along the way, along with a new word for this experience. #miscarriage #WeNeedANewName.”
Thereafter, many shared their stories of heartbreak and recovery. Some suggestions include the gentler “loss” and “angel baby.” —OLIVER PULUMBARIT
