Love Island star healing from tough miscarriage one year on from baby's due date
Love Island star Sharon Gaffka has shared her experience with pregnancy loss one year on from what would have been her baby's due date.
Sharon Gaffka, who found fame on Love Island back in 2021, has opened up about going through a miscarriage 18 months ago. The star took to her Instagram page where she issued a trigger warning and shared an emotional selfie as she opened up about her pregnancy loss for the first time.
Talking about what she has been going through, she said she has been "trying to find the strength" to open up about her experience to her followers. She said she was worried about people commenting on the situation ahead of posting but was later flooded with positive messages of support from fans.
Sharon opened up about her miscarriage (Instagram/sharongaffka)
Sharon found fame on Love Island in 2021 (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Sharon revealed that this week would have been her baby's first birthday and that the grief has hit her "like a train". She explained that she has found it "incredibly tough to function", saying that she didn't want "sympathy" but has opened up for her "own healing". In the caption she wrote: "!!W: pregnancy loss!! You know that classic saying… 'Be kind because you don’t know what someone is going through', I’ve been trying to find the strength to be open about something I’ve been healing from for the past eighteen months.
"I want to start by saying that everyone’s healing process is different. The foetus I miscarried would’ve been celebrating their first birthday this week. Which hit me like a train and I have surprisingly found it incredibly tough to function as I normally would. Miscarriage affects 1 in 4 women in the UK. While I know I’m not the only one to have experience such loss, I’ve struggled with finding a space where the unique emotional journey that those who don't envision motherhood in their future go through when facing such a loss, being talked about openly.
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"For individuals who never intended to become parents, the grief following a miscarriage is confusing. The traditional narrative surrounding motherhood doesn't apply, making it challenging to find spaces that resonate with their feelings." The reality star added: "My healing process has had to come in stages, weirdly one of the things I was the most scared about was people finding out and having strangers comment on it. But once those feelings passed, I’ve had to contend with feelings of failure. How as such an ‘accomplished’ woman - can I be a failure? I can only put it down to societal norms that as a woman, this is what my body “is supposed to do”, which has only amplified the grief.
"Grief is not a linear process, I’m tired of being told that time is healer and this truth is especially evident in the aftermath of miscarriage for those who never planned to have children. Feelings of loss, confusion, guilt, and even relief can surface unexpectedly, and these emotions are all valid. Breaking the silence surrounding miscarriage is crucial. For individuals who don't want children, opening up these conversations can lead to validation, understanding, and a sense of community."
Sharon concluded her post: "Putting this into the public domain isn’t for sympathy, it’s for my own healing so thank you for reading this far if you did." Georgia Townend, who appeared on Love Island with Sharon, was one of the first to comment, writing: "Sending you all the love and more
*If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at the Miscarriage Association. You can call them on 01924 200799 or email [email protected]
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