Our Team.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.” – Norman Vincent Peale

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HOBBIES:

Playing with my kids, reading, shopping

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MY WHY:

Throughout my career, I have taken care of a lot of really sick kids, some that never get to leave the hospital. I could never imagine what those parents must go through when they leave the hospital empty handed.

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Having witnessed firsthand the grief that my best friend experienced after losing her son really inspired my passion for improving bereavement care. I wanted to do everything I possibly could to help her and any parent going through what she went through. She has truly taught me so much through the years but what really sticks out to me is the importance of honoring those babies lost. Every year on her son’s birthday, we gather at his grave site and release balloons or live butterflies. It is a beautiful and therapeutic way to remember and celebrate him.

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As I have advanced my career into leadership on a Labor and Delivery unit, my passion has only grown to want to help all families experiencing a loss. By starting this organization, I hope to help lessen the grief and increase the hope for the future for these families.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"A life need not be long to be meaningful." - Unknown

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HOBBIES:

Taking my girls to sports activities, reading, fishing, paddle boarding, soaking up the sun, and cuddling my two dogs

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MY WHY:

One day, I arrived at work to learn that I would be caring for a family that had experienced the sudden and tragic loss of their sweet baby girl.  The room was dark and shrouded in sadness.  I came in, introduced myself and then walked across the room and opened the curtains.  As I did so, the mother said, “It looks so nice out.  I wish I could go outside for a little while.”  I told her that she could, but I sensed that she did not want to leave her baby, so I suggested that we take her with us. Although she was surprised that we could do that, she was eager to go out and get some fresh air.  I packed her up in a wheelchair, placed her sweet baby girl in her arms, and off we went with a trail of family members behind us.  It was a normal activity in an abnormal situation.

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Once outside, we strode along the walking path and soaked up the sun, while big sister and I played. And for the first time, the entire family was smiling.  My experience with this family and others have taught me that mothers, fathers, siblings, and other members of the family need normal interactions with their babies.  These are the only moments that they get, so it’s important to make sure there are some good ones too.

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My goals for this organization are to help normalize interactions with the baby to improve bonding and validate the familial role.  I hope to bring awareness of perinatal loss and remove the stigma of openly talking about miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death.  Although these losses are unique, they are no less important than any other type of loss.

FAVORITE QUOTE: 

Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith: grief is the price we pay for love.

~Darcie Sims

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HOBBIES: 

Spending time with my family, exercising, being outdoors

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MY WHY:

Witnessing the impact pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal death has had on my own family has led me where I am today. My sister, mother, and mother-in-law all experienced devastating and tragic losses. I held my sister as she cried while she miscarried her baby. My mother experienced more than her share of grief, as she has had four pregnancy losses, including an approximately 23-week gestation stillborn baby that she was not allowed to see or hold. The same is true for my mother-in-law. Her baby girl only lived a brief 20 minutes, and she too was not permitted to hold her after delivery. In both situations, the inability to see, touch, and hold their babies has led to a lifetime of pain and longing. The anguish is still notable in their voices when they talk about never feeling the weight of their baby in their arms.

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When I became a labor and delivery nurse and was assigned to care for a family experiencing such a loss, I was immediately reminded of those past conversations. Knowing this family deserved better, I was determined to provide them with the opportunity others didn’t have. However, in that moment, I realized I didn’t have the training to help them navigate this unwanted territory. Since that assignment, it has become my mission to educate myself on how to better care for families facing the devastation of a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death. In working alongside other healthcare professionals, I have come to realize how many of us feel we don’t have the training and skills to provide compassionate care and guidance to these families.

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My hope and desire are for support, resources, and education to be provided to each family confronted with the loss of their baby by those caring for them, and for resources to be available to them as their journey of healing begins. Ultimately, I want to provide as much comfort and peace as possible to anyone facing the unconscionable grief that is pregnancy loss.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"A person's a person, no matter how small" - Dr. Suess

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HOBBIES:

photography, arts & crafts, fishing, hiking

 

MY WHY: 

The first time I cared for a family experiencing miscarriage, I was terrified.  I felt awkward and incompetent.  I didn't know what to say or do. My hands shook as I handed the incredibly small baby to his mom.  She looked down at her baby, placed his hand on her pointer finger and said, "Look, he has your long fingers!" to the father.  In that moment, I could feel how loved that baby was.

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Without a doubt, I made many mistakes that day and I knew that the family deserved better. Every family deserves better! I have come to realize that healthcare providers are not taught how to care for families experiencing the uniqueness of pregnancy or infant loss.

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I have dedicated my career to learning about perinatal loss. I am committed to providing education, support, and resources to families and healthcare providers to ensure that every family receives respectful and appropriate care.

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