Spirit Award ANNDREA PLOEGER

By Andrea Busche

TheSpirit Award is presented to a woman who has shown exceptional courage and determination. Anndrea Ploeger, this year’s winner at the Rosie Awards, was nominated by her husband, Mark Johnson.

In October 2019, the couple experienced the tragic death of their son, River, during childbirth. To honor their beloved child, Ploeger has discovered many ways to give back to the community, sharing her experience of a home birth, helping other parents through infant and child loss, and raising money for the St. Louis River Alliance — all in River’s name.

In his nomination, Johnson shared, “I’m nominating my wife, Anndrea Ploeger, because she deserves to be recognized for the work she has done. She is a role model to others. She has experienced the greatest loss anyone can imagine.”

River

Ploeger, who co-owns two Superior, Wisconsin-based businesses — Blue Arrow Boutique and SPACES by Blue Arrow — at first experienced a happy, healthy pregnancy. She and her husband chose to have a home birth, and hired a certified nurse midwife, along with a doula who was also certified as a midwife.

Tragically, baby River died during childbirth, the cause of which is still unexplained.

“Everything was normal,” Ploeger said. “The autopsy results and placenta testing told us he was a healthy, normal little boy.”

Looking back, Ploeger and Johnson wish they would have chosen a hospital birth, which they later did for the arrival of their son, August (“Gus”), who was born in December 2020.

“I would not ever recommend a home birth,” Ploeger said. “A hospital birth is the safest.”

Giving back

Eventually, Ploeger knew she wanted to give back. In 2009, she had started selling her homemade jewelry on Etsy, under the name “Anndrea’s Art.” She has since created a tab on her website, which reads “FORIVER,” where she sells stickers and sweatshirts featuring River’s handprint.

The proceeds from these sales, along with the money received for River’s memorial — which had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — were donated to the St. Louis River Alliance.

“It has his name in it, it’s important to us, and it touches a lot of people,” Ploeger explained about why they selected that organization.

Additionally, Ploeger has connected with other parents through St. Luke’s hospital and the St. Luke’s Foundation. In October 2021, she gave a talk about infant and child loss at St. Luke’s. And, starting this July, Anndrea and Mark will be volunteering their time to lead a grief group, specifically for parents who have lost a child.

Gus

Ploeger and Johnson’s son Gus has brought much joy to their lives. But River will always be present, too.

“Gus is very happy and outgoing,” Ploeger said. “He’s a little spark of life. But we are living a life of joy and grief. For every ‘first’ that Gus experiences, we are very aware that River didn’t get that.”

Ploeger and Johnson are making sure Gus always knows who his brother was.

“We have River’s photos up in our home, and models of his hands and feet,” Ploeger said.

Advice

Ploeger offered her perspective to other parents who have lost an infant or child.

“It’s OK to talk about your child,” she said. “And sometimes there isn’t an answer about why they died. I would tell other moms not to blame themselves.”

Ploeger also recommends talk therapy as a way to process through grief.

“It’s a lot of work, but definitely worth it,” she said.

Award

Ploeger is honored to receive the Spirit Award. However, she acknowledges there are some mixed feelings involved.

“It was hard to hear people tell me ‘congratulations,’” she said. “After all, if River was here, I wouldn’t have won this award. But I’m so grateful to be acknowledged for what I’m doing to honor his memory. And for Mark to take the time to honor this experience by nominating me just fills my heart. This award gives me a bigger voice to share the work that I’m doing.” D