Tribute to Kimberly Krans, LM, CPM

by Melissa Deas LM,CPM (Bristol, VT)

Kimberly, (Kim), decided she wanted to become a midwife at least 10 years ago.  She was only 21 at the time.  I noticed her showing her bubbly and enthusiastic self at all the Vermont Midwives’ Alliance meetings. 

She was not the usual age that I would have chosen to train as a midwife particularly because she had not yet experienced giving birth. However, I had developed an eye for a woman who had been chosen by midwifery.  Kim was one of those women.  She was driven to pursue midwifery right from the get go.  I have no doubt, Kim was born a midwife.  Kim dove into her training with zest and excitement.  It was very soon clear after the beginning of Kimberly’s apprenticeship, that she wanted to learn everything she could as quickly as thoroughly as possible.  Kim was devoted to the practice and the life style.  She took herself to Texas to Casa del Nacimiento so she could have the practical experience she wanted in a concentrated fashion. She then joined us at Birthrites Midwifery Care in Vermont to start her apprenticeship.  It became clear to me that Kim would become the competent and skilled midwife she became.  She simply had it in her to face any situation that caused her to thoroughly examine herself and anything in her life that was not supporting her path. 

Kimberly made strong connections with other midwives keeping the network strong. She studied hard to pass her NARM exam required to become a Vermont licensed midwife. After apprenticing with Birthrites for 3 or 4 years, Kim went onto another practice to gain more experience for 3 years.  She left that business to pursue an idea of building a midwifery co-op in Middlebury, VT with Birthrites (my business) and Susan Kass’ Midwifery Care.  This co-op was to become a woman’s center including birth classes, mother/daughter relationships, and breast feeding support group, a source for blessing ways for menstrual beginnings, birth and menopausal passage.  Unexpected circumstances (some of them financial), forced us to close our doors after a year.  However, we continued being second midwives for each other and keeping a network for birth classes, consultations, and insurance claim supports.  Kim spread her wings during this time second midwifing for other midwives and building her own practice at Bella Vista Midwifery. Her clients spoke highly and lovingly of her.  The midwives she worked with speak highly and lovingly of her.

Many of us are greatly appreciative of Kim’s side business of selling birth kits to our clients.  She had a sweet method of writing a specialized birth kit list for the clients of each midwife.  I have since learned that Kim made the hats she put in each kit.

On September 25, 2005, Kimberly Krans had a bike accident while riding with her beloved partner, Julian Campbell in her home town, Keuka Park, NY.  Her head and neck injuries were very serious causing an immediate coma.  Kim was air lifted to the Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY.  The doctors tried to save her with surgery and drug therapy to reduce severe swelling to Kim’s brain.  Many of Kim’s family members were always at her side including Julian and his parents.  Kim’s friends and close midwife pals joined her on Wednesday, September 28^th.  We sang for her, kissed her, told our stories to each other and her parents, Diane and Jeff Krans, and brother, Jake.  We prayed for her and said our goodbyes to her.  Our sweet wonderful Kim could no longer live in her precious body. 

She died the evening of the 28^th with her family surrounding her and her midwife pals very nearby.  Here is a quote that says it all for many of us: “I am right now thinking of Kim's beautiful glow and smile”.  We all think of Kim’s beautiful smile and miss her so very much. 

Melissa Deas lm,cpm