Jacqueline, Spreading HOPE for Declan
Ambassador Jacqueline Acomb, fundraising in memory of Declan
“I lost Declan when he was only 5 days old at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. RTZ online grief support saved me, truly. I travel constantly for my job and Declan is with me everywhere I go. He was the rainbow in Slovenia, the sunrise in Punta Mita, the brightest star in the sky out in the bush in Zimbabwe. I am a hopeless optimist. Grief and joy can coexist. We must lead with our heart.
Being able to listen and share with other people who experienced a similar loss was transformative for me in my loss journey. It was so incredibly helpful to feel like I belonged to a community of people that understood what I was going through, who cared and listened. Our group's mantra was We Can Do Hard Things. I am friends with many of them still as we are bound by our shared grief and care for one another.”
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 Jacqueline’s fundraiser in honor of Declan. 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.