Shining a light on support groups for bereaved families

The grief of losing a pregnancy, infant, or child is a shadow that is carried by the family for the rest of their days. No matter how long that little life was present, their story is forever etched in the hearts of their loved ones in a big way, and their life deserves to be recognized and honored. 

October is Infant and Child Loss Awareness Month, a reality that all too many are versed in, with 1 in 4 families experiencing pregnancy loss. Despite this, the grief that comes with loss can be among the most isolating and dark for families to navigate. 

We at NANNY stand with you in your grief and honor your child’s life alongside you. While nothing can take away the pain of child loss, finding a community to remember and honor your child can be a healing experience for many parents. Below, we have created a list of local, state, and national organizations to support you through your loss and serve as your village.  

Local Organizations serving bereaved parents in North Alabama

• Ryker’s Rainbow
  Born from the loss of their son, Ryker, at 37 weeks in 2020, the Schoff family created Ryker’s Rainbow to “be the light” for other families experiencing loss. When Lacey Schoff went home from the hospital without her son, she was given a long book on grief that couldn’t break through the fog of her pain. Since then, she and her husband have created Ryker’s Rainbow to offer blessing boxes through local hospitals with easily digestible resources and keepsakes.
  
  Since starting, the organization now hosts Mama Meet Ups for bereaved mothers to connect, and offers sibling support through the donation of books about grief, and holds support activities for the children to attend alongside their parents at events. Ryker’s Rainbow is also working with Valley United Methodist Church to create a community prayer garden for families to have a place to mourn and remember their loved one. 

• The Caring House with Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children
  The loss of a child impacts the entire family, including siblings. Grief can be especially difficult to navigate for younger children - surfacing as emotional outbursts, anger, and confusion. The Caring House with Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, steps in to offer support services for children experiencing grief. Through play, art, and sharing and listening times, children are able to learn more about the grieving process and work through their own feelings.
  These services are free for families and serve children ages 3 - 18. Family and guardians can call 256-265-4673 for more information and to schedule their consultation.

• H.O.P.E. (Helping Other Parents Endure)
  Sharing your child’s story can be an important way to not only process your grief but also honor their life. The Helping Other Parents Endure (H.O.P.E) support group meets on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care. This group is open to any parent experiencing infant or child loss. Call 256-650-1212 for additional information.
  
  

• North Alabama While We’re Waiting - Bereaved Parents Support Group
  Holding fellowship within the loss community will never take away the pain of losing a child, but it can help with feeling less alone. The North Alabama While We’re Waiting Bereaved Parents Support Group meets over dinner at Mount Zion Church in Huntsville on the first Thursday evening of each month, with supper provided. Call or text 256-580-6260 for additional information about upcoming dates.

State Organizations for parents experiencing loss

• TEARS Alabama
  More than just an organization, the TEARS Foundation aims to be a community for the families that have experienced the devastation of loss. Born from the struggles of a family to pay for the headstone of their child, the Foundation has grown to become an international organization offering support groups, funeral financial assistance, peer companions, and events. 
  The Alabama Chapter of The TEARS Foundation is run by Alina Hall and holds an annual Rock & Walk event to honor the lives of children gone too soon and to fundraise for their support efforts at the state level.

National Organizations for Families

• Postpartum Support International Support Groups
  Founded in 1987, Postpartum Support International was created to raise awareness and support around the emotional changes that families experience during pregnancy and postpartum. The organization hosts many virtual support groups for families, including several that serve bereaved families. Groups include: Pregnancy After Loss, Parenting After Loss, Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Group, Pregnancy After Stillbirth and Early Infant Loss, and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support for Parents. These groups meet on different days of the week and can be found by visiting their website. 

• Hope After Loss
  Centered around the belief that “anyone who has lost a pregnancy or infant should not have to grieve alone,” Hope After Loss is a national organization serving families through a sense of community and support. The organization holds support groups, burial and cremation help, outreach and education for healthcare professionals, and organizes community events. Support groups are free and open to families experiencing grief and include: a Men’s Support Group, Trying to Conceive & Pregnancy After Loss Support Group, Parenting After Loss, TFMR for parents who had to make the difficult decision to terminate their pregnancy due to medical reasons, and more. 

• Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
  After experiencing the loss of an infant, photographs and other keepsakes can be cherished remembrances for families to hold onto. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is a national group where professional photographers volunteer to come to families to photograph the last moments with their baby. Local photographers can be found by calling (256) 361-9725 in the Huntsville area, or you can find local providers by entering your zipcode on their website.

• Project Sweet Peas
  Project Sweet Peas is a national nonprofit organization that serves families with babies staying in the NICU as well as those experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. Project Sweet Peas helps families create keepsakes through remembrance memory boxes and offers peer-to-peer support to help families feel less alone. They also hold annual remembrance vigils for the babies gone too soon. 

If you or a loved one has experienced pregnancy, infant, or child loss, our hearts go out to you. You are not alone in your grief, and your child’s life deserves to be remembered. If you know of another support group or resource that is not listed here, please reach out so we can add it to the list for other families.