Mrs India International shares heart-breaking story to help others dealing with loss
| 12th October 2021
Mrs India International shares her heart-breaking story to help others dealing with loss: Speaking publicly for the first time, and recently crowned Mrs Asia Universe 2021, Sushmita Duttagupta wants to share her story on how she tragically lost her firstborn Ethan when he was just two months old, and how she was able to overcome such a devastating time in her life.
With baby loss awareness week taking place on the 9-15th October, Sushmita Duttagupta wants to help raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss and to help those, who like her, have experienced a devastating loss.
On the 9th of November 2015 Sushmita and her husband Steve welcomed a beautiful baby boy Ethan. Sushmita’s pregnancy was fairly straight forward to start with, until the scan at 22 weeks when they were told that Ethan was showing signs of hydronephrosis (a condition where one or both kidneys become stretched and swollen as the result of a build-up of urine inside them).
Subsequently he had to be delivered early and needed surgery to try and correct the issue. Their hearts shattered and the fear of unknown was overwhelming, but they never gave up, and hoped for the best for their son.
Mrs India International shares her heart-breaking story to help others dealing with loss
Ethan had his surgery straight after he was born. He was in NICU for the first 4 weeks of his life. He finally came home, and they managed to have a lovely Christmas together.
Not long after Christmas, Ethan contracted a UTI, something which is very common for new-borns, however, for a new-born who just had major surgery, it was unfortunately too much for his little body to handle. Ethan’s condition worsened and within hours, and a few days later this developed into sepsis. On New Year’s Eve, December 31st 2015, Ethan passed away to the complete and utter devastation of Sushmita and her husband.
There are no words to describe the desolation that both Sushmita and Steven felt. Sushmita recounts that she did not know how she would ever overcome such a tragic loss. Physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, Sushmita leaned on her husband, her family and friends for condolence and support in what was a very make or break time in her life.
“You never get over it. You just learn to live with it, and I want people to know that. You can live your life and you can find happiness again and like all things it will take time. I didn’t think I could ever get past Ethan’s death and fast forward to now, I have a beautiful four-year-old daughter, Valentina, who knows all about her big brother in heaven. I have come so far in business and now I am representing the entire continent of Asia in the Mrs Universe pageant this November. If I can do it, anybody can.” Says Sushmita.
Sushmita wants to use her platform to empower women, and to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who have experienced loss.
“For all the parents out there experiencing pregnancy or baby loss, please get in contact with SANDS charity. I have been following their work for some time and they have incredible resources, and they provide free professional support. Just know that you are not alone. What helped me the most was talking about it to my family and friends about it. Keeping it all to myself definitely made my sadness and my depression worse. Talking helped me heal and hopefully it can help you too.”