Joy, Spreading HOPE for Sweet Pea

Ambassador Joy Van Staalduinen, fundraising in memory of sweet pea

“We named our first child “sweet pea” because they died during early pregnancy at the size of a pea. After losing my first child during pregnancy, I sensed a call to work with other families facing a similar grief and launched the Love & Loss podcast. Although I have gone on to have other pregnancies that ended in healthy births, I will always be grateful for my sweet pea who made me a mom.”

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 Joy’s fundraiser in honor of Sweet Pea. 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.