Comforting Those with Fertility Challenges: Jenni Saake

By OBOS — May 3, 2010

From 2009 – 2011, Our Bodies Ourselves honored the work of women’s health advocates worldwide by asking readers to nominate their favorite women’s health hero. View all nominees by year: 2009, 2010, 2011

Entrant: Crystal M. Wilson

Nominee: Jenni Saake, Author of “Hannah’s Hope,” Founders of Hannah’s Prayer ministry

Jenni Saake is author of “Hannah’s Hope: Seeking God’s Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage and Adoption Loss.”

She and her husband, Rick, established Hannah’s Prayer, a ministry that has since reached tens of thousands of families worldwide with comfort, hope, encouragement and support in the face of fertility challenges.

She also keeps up a blog that offers further encouragement, bridging two very different worlds of 10+ years of infertility (including three miscarriages and seven failed adoption attempts), followed by motherhood of three living miracles.

“InfertilityMom” Jenni Saake shares about her daily life working at home, writing, homeschooling and juggling chronic health challenges including endometriosis, polycystic ovaries (PCOS), fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) / XMRV Associated Neuro-Immune Disease (XAND).

40 responses to “Comforting Those with Fertility Challenges: Jenni Saake”

  1. I consider it an honor to vote for Jenni. She has been a source of inspiration and hope for thousands of women as she has reached out to those who are coping with infertility. She has walked the walk, but also, as she has been able to have children, she has been very sensitive to those who are still waiting for their families to start. She spends a great deal of time personally encouraging women one-on-one that is not reflected in her blogs. But her blogs, books and outreach are all fabulous. She dives into topics such as self-esteem and body image, chronic illness, parenting, homeschooling and more. Despite fighting infections and extremely difficult health conditions (besides the chronic illnesses) she continues to persevere. I was the “Audience Choice” last year for Women’s Health Hero and I strongly recommend Jenni this year!

  2. Crystal, thank you so much for the loving encouragement of this nomination. Lisa, thank you for your words of honor and affirmation as well. And thank you to any/all who take the time to visit this profile and click that little thumbs up button! {{{{hugs}}}

  3. It was only natural for me to nominate Jenni as she truly is a hero of mine since I deal with so many of the same difficulties she writes about. The encouragement I receive from her writings truly is a gift.

    As Lisa Copen wrote above, “She (Jenni) spends a great deal of time personally encouraging women one-on-one, that is not reflected in her blogs” I can also attest to that & am blessed by her care for others.

    In addition to nominating Jenni, I also vote for her.

  4. Reading Jenni’s book is like sitting down with a dear friend. She has such a gentle and loving spirit both in her writing and in person.

  5. I, too, am honored to vote for my good friend Jenni. We’ve come a long way from that first e-mail (back before either of us had a website!). It has been an honor to walk this journey with you.

    Julie Donahue

    Hannah’s Prayer

    co-founder/Director Emeritus

  6. The fact that Jenni MAKES the time to frequently and lovingly encourage women on an individual basis…in the middle of all that goes on in her life…is such a testament to her spirit and her compassion!

    What a blessing!

  7. Thank you for recognizing an infertility advocate as a woman;s health hero! I often feel infertility is the red-headed stepchild of women’s health.

    Congrats Jenni!

  8. I have known Jenni all of her life. She truly is as she seems in her books, blogs and other writings. She is a comforter, encourager, and truly cares for/loves the women she interacts with. She is a blessing to me.

  9. Jenni is truly an amazing woman!! Her book and the support group that she started was truly a lifesaver for me as my husband and I struggled with infertility. She actually takes times out of her busy schedule to connect one on one with anyone that is in need of encouragement and support.

    Congrats and best of luck to you Jenni!!

  10. What a privilege to vote for Jenni! She is an amazing mom, wife, friend, and writer. I could go on and on about why I love and admire her. Instead I’ll just say it with my vote and wish that I could stuff the ballot box with hundreds from me alone.

  11. I can’t think of anyone who deserves to win this more than Jenni. Hannah’s Prayer helped me survive the most difficult thing I have ever gone through. And for that I will be forever grateful to Jenni. She has been such a blessing to so many women.

  12. I am so happy that Jen is being honored for her heart for the lost and broken. I too was broken by several miscarriages and had such a hole in my heart for those babies I had lost. Jens book was a breakthrough for me. She changed the way I looked my babies…all of them including the two living precious ones I have now. Thanks Jen and God Bless!

  13. Such an honor to vote for Jenni Saake. She is such a light in my life. Was there for me when I lost my baby girl who had Anencephaly almost four years ago. She gave me hope for the future, and to trust what God has in store for me. I now have a little boy who is healthy, and am pregnant with a little girl!

    Jenn is truly God’s gift in Women’s lives!

  14. Jenni Saake is a wonderful proponent of women who have dealt with infertility, miscarriage, and adoption loss. I am blessed to serve along side her and Rick at our church. May her ministry grow by leaps and bounds as she honors all those who have been created in the image of God.

  15. I do not have enough space on this spot on put everything down Jenni has done in her ministry, mentoring, saving lives and friendship!

    Valerie

  16. Jenni is a great source of encouragement for me! Her book has helped me come to a sense of peace through our infertility journey. I have met so many friends through her ministry. I consider her a true blessing!

  17. I have known Jenni for many years. She has loved many people over many years in many places, and she has my vote!

  18. Definitely an honor to vote for Jenni! She could never know the amazing inspiration and source of Christlike love she has been in my life. After a long road of infertility and losses, Jenni has brought me so much love and hope to carry on through the toughest days. Her daily battles with illness and the way she overcomes them while pouring forth the love of Christ is beautiful to watch…and beyond inspiring! The Lord has used her to touch so many!

  19. I read Jenni’s book and it was so helpful to my healing process. Thank you Jenni for everything you do for us moms who have experienced the loss of an unborn child.

  20. Jenni’s story encouraged me when I was facing infertility as a single middle-aged woman. Jesus used her story to minister to me, and praise God He now uses mine to bring hope to others! What a gift Jenni is. She’s a true hero in God’s healing army! Mary Singer Wick, Amazon #1 bestselling author of “My Heart’s Desire: A Journey Toward Finding Extravagant Love”.

  21. As an adoptive mother (due to infertility) Jennie’s devotion to support of infertility issues is much appreciated. Her persistence through adversity is commended and I share in casting my vote for her to win this honor.

  22. Dear Jennie,

    I live oceans away in a little island in Asia called Sri Lanka.

    I’m so grateful to Holley for her webiste and the opportunities to connect with Christian women all over the globe.

    I was so heartened to see you have such a ministry…so needed wherever in the world we may be. I feel honoured to vote for you.

    Hoping to write to my sisters overseas to try and source your book.

    Bless you for bringing ‘hope & encouragement’ to women.

    Sal

  23. Jenni has been an amazing source of strength, compassion and friendship to me. I look back over the 10 plus years that I have known here and I can see her impact in my life over and over again.

  24. Thank you for the privilege of voting for Jenni. She is a constant encourager, even during the darkest storms. God bless you, my friend.

  25. My husband’s vote was just counted with the thumbs up; however, if I can also vote from the same address, then please count me as having voted for Jenni, as well. After being told that it would be nearly impossible to conceive without medical treatment and difficult even with, God blessed us with our miracle baby after no treatments (and years of waiting). Thank you for writing about the hurts of infertility and all that goes with it. May God continue to bless her ministry to so many.

  26. I’ve known Jenni for over 10 years, and have appreciated the concern and bond we have with our “missed” children in heaven. She definitely has my vote!

  27. Seems like one amazing woman–and one amazing testimony! I myself had 4 miscarriages along with 15 years of infertility, BUT Praise God–2 miracle boys–one through infertility treatments and one naturally–both by the hand of God. Thank you for standing up for life!

  28. My hubby voted for Jenni and I would also like to vote but it would not let me. Wish I could vote as well! Jenni is so wonderful. The book she wrote is a comfort to me as well as others and she is a very caring and kind person to know (even if it is only online).

  29. My husband voted successfully for Jenni. But when I tried (from my own computer, but still from our home, too,) it would not accept another vote. So please count my husband’s vote — from rgounaud– twice. Thank you. Jenni deserves to win.

  30. My wife, Gloria, would like to vote for Jenni as well, so please add another vote for her.

  31. I wanted to let you know that I know of dozens of people who wanted to vote for Jenni, but when they tried to vote the system would not let them vote. It would tell them that they had voted when they had not yet. I also know of many other people who also wanted to vote, but since their spouse voted they could not vote for Jenni, too. Jenni would have had many more votes if the system was working correctly. Her vote count is much lower because of the problems with your voting system.

  32. I’m sorry if you experienced difficulties. The system tracks IP addresses, so as not to allow multiple votes from one computer. As imperfect as that may be, it was the same for everyone — all nominees may have had other people in the same household who wanted to vote for them but could not because of the IP limitations. Readers unable to vote from home could still cast their vote from another location, such as a work computer or public library.

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