A Central New York mother is hoping to help women navigate their grief using positive psychology.

Vera Chapman, of Hamilton, created “cards of affirmation” after she gave birth to a still born son two years ago. The cards are intended to help women around the world who may be in a similar situation.

“I put a lot of care into these because it is so painful to lose a child,” said Chapman.

Chapman believes mothers that lose a child could use a little more help.

“I came back from the hospital and I was a shell of a person. Honestly, I think I dissociated a little bit and was just going through the motions in my own life. Spent a whole lot of time in bed. It was a very very difficult time," said Chapman.

Her husband and two children have been her main source of strength to move on. Earlier this year, she came across a positive affirmation online and then began creating her own.

“It helped me to challenge my thinking in a way that I can begin my healing process,” she said.

Chapman, who is a licensed professional counselor herself, took those words of strength and began designing healing affirmation cards.

“So the cards are carefully designed to help a mother through her healing journey. They follow the positive psychology model and starts with really starting to embrace the emotions that you’re feeling. To allow yourself time to grieve,” said Chapman.

Using a program online, she developed 31 cards that feature illustrations of women on one side and an affirmation on the other. Chapman said the women on the cards show off diversity because stillbirths and miscarriages can happen to anyone. She began placing the cards in places like St. Joseph’s Health where they could help grieving mothers.

Brigid Boyle is a grief counselor and lost a child 18 years ago. She said the cards are very comforting.

“They’re a gentle way of helping people feel less alone in this. It’s such an isolating journey," Boyle said. "And, though we’ve gotten better at talking about these types of losses, we still don’t as a society do a very good job of that. So, that’s one of the things that the cards can do."

While there is no finish line in the healing process, creating these cards have helped Chapman move on. But now, her goal is to help others.

“At the end of the day, these cards are not about me. They’re not about the beautiful pictures or design that I love so much but it’s not about that. It’s about the healing they’ll bring," said Chapman.  

It's a reminder to women that they are never alone during difficult times.

The cards are available for purchase on Vera’s website at https://VeraVChapman.com/light-in-loss/.

Donations of card decks can also be made through her Shopify store.