The DMV’s own Stephanie Mathias delivered a powerful song about survival, motherhood and the pain that comes with losing a child due to a miscarriage. I received this one in my inbox this morning and knew from the jump I needed to feature it.

This song is beautiful because it doesn’t shy away from the fact that losing a child that way is tough for anyone. I’m also featuring it because of the fact that the song’s meaning hits doubly for me since Stephanie gave birth to a miracle baby recently. Plus, I couldn’t even begin to imagine my life if one of my children had passed on–whether in the womb or outside of it.

Parents are stronger than we sometimes show; we have to be to deal with the hectic nature of children but also the anxieties and pains that come with being a parent. I applaud Mathias for speaking her truth and releasing the song during Pregnancy, Infant and Child Loss Awareness Month.

Getting back to the nuts and bolts of “Starting Over,” the song also features DC-born singer Jarreau Williams on the hook. The duo also engage in a call-and-response type of verse, doubling up on the rawness. It adds to the powerfulness of the song to have two strong-voiced individuals discussing a topic they both find near and dear to them. Plus, songs of this nature (about topics that can be seen as touchy to approach featuring beautiful voices) don’t exactly come around every day. Check out the song below and remember to support dope music in all its forms.