Tori Curtis

Why This Cause Means So Much to Me

Tuesday 17th Feb

It’s hard to put into words just how much this means to me.

I was first introduced to the Gidget Foundation through my obstetrician when I was pregnant with my eldest son in 2019. Before that pregnancy, I had experienced a miscarriage, and I was carrying a lot of fear and uncertainty into what should have been a joyful time. My anxiety during pregnancy was high, and honestly, it felt like I was constantly waiting for something to go wrong.

That’s when I started receiving support through the Gidget Foundation, and it truly changed everything for me.

Through working with my Gidget psychologist, I was able to develop coping mechanisms and tools that helped me manage my perinatal anxiety. It didn’t erase what I’d been through, and it didn’t magically make pregnancy “easy”, but it helped me feel supported, understood, and more in control. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe again.

Because of that support, I was able to go on to have a positive birthing experience with my eldest son, something I’ll always be grateful for.

Since then, my journey to grow our family hasn’t been straightforward. I experienced two more miscarriages. Later, I welcomed my second child… and then my third.

And throughout all of it, I’ve continued to receive support through the Gidget Foundation.

I can honestly say the support has carried me through so many seasons of motherhood: loss, trying to conceive, postpartum anxiety, returning to work, and the day-to-day challenges of raising multiple children. It has also helped me build confidence, especially in trusting my own instincts as a mother.

One of the biggest shifts for me has been how I view mental health support now.

I’ve reached a point where I see my psychologist the same way I would see a physical therapist. You don’t only go when you’re at breaking point. You go for check-ins. You go to track your progress. You go to get reminders of the tools that help you stay steady. And sometimes, you go because a new “sprain” or challenge has popped up — and you need support to strengthen that area again.

Mental health is just as important as physical health. The brain is one of our most important muscles — and it deserves care, exercise, and support too.

That’s why I’m walking.

I’m walking for the version of me who was terrified during pregnancy. I’m walking for anyone navigating miscarriage, anxiety, postpartum challenges, or the overwhelm that can come with motherhood. And I’m walking because I want more women to have access to the kind of support that helped me.

If you’re able to donate, share, or support in any way — thank you. And if you’re someone who’s struggling right now, I hope you know you’re not alone, and support is out there.

This walk is for Gidget — but it’s also for every mother who deserves to feel held, supported, and mentally well.

Tori

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