Anna, Spreading HOPE for Liam
honorary Ambassador Anna Calix, sharing in memory of Liam
"Liam died and was stillborn at 40 weeks, on his due date. Just as my grief journey constantly evolves, so have I. My experience has changed me and shaped who I am today. It hasn't been an easy journey by any means. Seven years later there are still plenty of highs and lows I experience, which are not as visible to the world at this point in my journey as they once were. I am grateful for the skills, tools, and friends I have acquired over the years to help me navigate this process. So many gifts have come out of my journey. In fact, so many gifts have come from Liam that I started what has grown into a nonprofit organization called "Gifts from Liam". His greatest gift to me is my rainbow son.
A special memory I am have from my pregnancy journey is I was a dancer when I was pregnant with Liam. I remember being at a dance workshop when I was 35 weeks pregnant, and at one point while dancing, Liam kicked so hard that my dance partner even felt it.
Experiencing the death of your baby is not something anyone should navigate alone. The options for support after pregnancy or infant loss are limited, and RTZ HOPE is an essential resource for the loss community because of the carefully curated content, evidence-based information, and culturally congruent support options that have been so thoughtfully and intentionally created.”
Pregnancy and infant loss is an unique type of loss, leaving the grievers to feel isolated and unsure of how to move forward. We'd be grateful if you you would consider making a contribution to RTZ Hope. Your gift ensures that other parents who endure loss on their journey to parenthood have the support, resources, and community they need in order to navigate life after loss.
With your support, here’s what we were able to accomplish during 2022 (2022 Annual Report):
Fifty percent of support group participants received financial support to ensure that all parents have access to services.
Enhanced outreach to and created support services for Black, Indigenous, and other Communities of Color as a response to the alarming rate of preterm births and stillbirths caused by racial disparities in perinatal and infant health.
Offered 50 different support group programs (virtual workshops, virtual support groups, and in-person retreats) to our community of bereaved families.
Supplied our unique perinatal bereavement guides to 400 hospitals and providers to assist in caring for grieving families.
Hosted 10 perinatal bereavement education webinars to parents and providers.
Created community and spread awareness about pregnancy and infant loss through social media.