Twitter was there when I returned to my OB’s office for the first time after my newborn daughter died. I grew anxious as the minutes passed and she didn’t pop into the exam room. But, somehow, knowing people were out there listening as I was stuck in a tiny cell filled with pregnancy memories, I managed.

This wasn’t the first time Twitter was there for me. I reached out through Twitter and blogs just a few days after Cora died. Social media gave me purpose those early days. I wanted to share Cora, share her beauty, and the best way I knew how was by talking about her. I did constantly. And, people listened, reached out, let me talk about her. On days when I couldn’t find the words to speak, I could always find something to write.

Some of you might be aware of Cora’s story, but in case you aren’t, here goes. I had a healthy pregnancy and delivered Cora November 30, 2009. She lived five healthy days, no signs of a problem. One morning, I was breastfeeding her. I looked up for a second and looked back down and she was dead. Suddenly. Out of nowhere. It’s so traumatic. I sometimes worry I give people PTSD just sharing her story. We rushed her immediately to the hospital, but it was too late.

Turns out she had an undetected congenital heart defect. The coroner told us a few days later. We looked up congenital in the dictionary, and I took to the web. A Google search was sort of helpful. But even more helpful? Connecting to real live people that picked up on my tweets naming Cora’s killer.

What’s helped me more than anything is giving back. Cora changed me so much. I’ve never felt such love. She was stunning, in so many ways. I instantly felt a need to make sure that beauty multiplies. On most days, the only thing that keeps me from losing my mind and crawling into bed and never coming out is sharing her. Knowing she’s reaching people and saving lives.

I never thought I’d get out of bed each morning because of blogging and Twitter. I remember feeling silly at first emotionally spewing everything on my blog, but the silliness was outweighed by the support. By all the people that felt like they knew Cora and wanted to help spread her story.

Blogging gives Cora a voice. Cora lives.

People are what got me through ultimately. The power of the good of people. And, the blogging community? Full of some of the best.