Before Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth‘s daughter was stillborn, she and five of her pregnant sisters got together for a photoshoot. Not only was Joy-Anna expecting a baby in 2019, but so was her older sister, Jessa Seewald, and her four sisters-in-law, Lauren Duggar, Anna Duggar, Abbie Duggar, and Kendra Duggar.
The six of them had decided that a photoshoot would be a great way for them to keep the memory of the time when they were all pregnant together forever alive. However, no one could have known that just a few weeks after these photos were taken, Joy-Anna would endure one of the most heartbreaking moments in her life.
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However, now the 22-year-old is opening up about her unexpected loss and how she’s still very grateful for the pictures she and her sisters took that day.
She began:
“So thankful to have these pictures from the photoshoot back in June with all the pregnant sisters. I couldn’t have known at the time what these memories would mean to me now. While we grieve over the loss of our baby girl who would’ve been due in just 8 days, we are grateful for the time we had with her. We are thankful for memories like these. We are thankful for the precious hours we were able to hold her in our arms and say our goodbyes. We are thankful that God allowed us to be her parents, and we know that her life—though it was brief—has changed our lives forever.”
Joy-Anna and Austin named the baby girl they lost on June 26, Annabell Elise Forsyth. She was due to be born on November 10.
Joy-Anna continued that she decided to share the photo on her page, not so much as a reminder of the little girl they lost, but as a reminder of the immense joy they still feel for her sisters who are still expecting the arrivals of their little ones.
“And at the same time, we want others to know that the loss we feel does not negate the true joy and expectation we feel as we await the arrival of sisters’ and friends’ babies. There are lots of little nieces on the way, and we couldn’t be more excited! Kendra, Lauren and Anna are due this month, and Abbie is due in January! It’s a strange dichotomy. In the words of the Apostle Paul, we are ‘as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing,’ (2 Cor 6:10).”
In fact, like Jessa, who welcomed a little girl, Ivy Jane, into the world in May, Kendra gave birth to their little girl, Addison Renee, during the early morning hours of November 4.
Joy-Anna concluded, “God has been good. God is still good. We look forward to seeing Annabell again one day in heaven. Until then, we will get the joy and privilege of cuddling and loving on these sweet little nieces.”
As for when Joy-Anna and Austin might try to start growing their family again, Joy-Anna told Us Weekly that they “want to be wise and give my body time to heal.”
“But we are excited for the children that God’s going to give us and can’t wait. I don’t know if four is the number. I mean, I would be fine with a few more if that’s what God wants us to have.” The couple is currently parents to their 20-month-old son, Gideon.
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She also praised both her and Austin’s families for being there for them during this emotional time in their life. Joy told Us Weekly that both sides of their family have prepared them meals, encouraged them, and made it possible for them to have alone time together when they needed it.
It’s so special when people are lucky enough to have supportive families who help them through the toughest of times.
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