Episode 14 - Living with Lupus and APS After Stillbirth: A Story of Healing Through Abstract Art

Sheri Biritz and her husband were overjoyed to be expecting a baby boy. Over the holidays, they celebrated with family, imagining the joy of meeting their son, Calvin. But during a routine prenatal visit, Sheri was rushed to the hospital with preeclampsia. Doctors explained they would need to induce labor, but Calvin was too small to survive. Sheri learned she had Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), an autoimmune blood disorder which likely caused Calvin's stillbirth. In this vulnerable conversation, Sheri shares the heartbreak of losing Calvin, the out-of-body experience that followed, and how a Catholic priest’s anointing of the sick led to her miraculous healing just 12 hours later. In the years after Calvin’s passing, Sheri was diagnosed with Lupus as well - another autoimmune disease. These health challenges became part of her ongoing journey, and she turned to art as a form of healing. Returning to her creative roots, Sheri found painting to be a lifeline, a way to channel grief into beauty and celebrate Calvin’s memory. Her vibrant, intuitive abstract work reflects both her joy for life and her deep connection to inner wisdom.This episode is for anyone navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, or life with autoimmune illness such as APS or Lupus. Sheri’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest seasons, art and creativity can offer light, an opportunity to play, and deep healing.Connect with Sheri Biritz:SheriBiritz.comIG/Facebook: @sheribiritzLupus Support:https://www.lupus.orghttps://lupusuk.org.ukLearn more about Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) here.Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music