When Melanie Blocker Stokes became pregnant, she seemed to have everything in place. She was a successful pharmaceutical sales manager happily married to a physician. But on February 23, 2001, Sommer Skyy was born, beautiful and healthy. That's when Melanie's mother, Carol, realized something wasn't quite right with her daughter.
In this interview Melanie's mom, Carol Blocker recommends a supportive book and provides an update on Melanie's Bill, legislation named after her daughter.
Click the play button to hear the audio.
Visit Carol Blocker at Her Site: MelaniesBattle.org
Melanie's Battle is a website devoted to raising awareness of postpartum psychosis and depression. Their hope is those who are suffering from these afflictions will be able to find the understanding and help they need to win their own battles.
Melanie's battle has become Carol's Crusade. After Melanie's Death, Carol contacted every newspaper and magazine she could think of. She has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and in the pages of Jet and Ebony. Carol believes that ignorance is our worst enemy in the battle against postpartum mood disorders. She has organazined marches, initiated legislation, distributed flyers in hospital maternity wards, and she has become an advocate for a silent section of our population: women who in the throes of postpartum psychosis killed their own children. Carol has become a pen pal to many of them, and has appeared in court on numerous occasions to testify on their behalf.