For Ava, With Love by Rachel Mizell
September is a meaningful month for our family. We're honoring Ava Joy on what would be her 1st birthday by asking for donations of $9 for her birth month.
We lost Ava Joy Mizell at 37 weeks gestation suddenly and unexpectedly, seemingly due to a true knot of her umbilical cord. We struggled with infertility before her and currently are now as well. She is our only child.
I would have never anticipated the connection that I have with my daughter, Ava, even after her death. I get to talk to her whenever I want, I get to take her everywhere with me. I get to take care of her, albeit in much different ways than if she was still alive.
Finding Healing and Strength Through RTZ Hope
A counselor sent me a link to the RTZ website shortly after my daughter’s death. Just reading through all the information and other’s stories on the website was extremely comforting to me. Also getting the emails every so often is an encouragement to me. These things have helped me feel less alone, and that my experience matters.
You can help make sure no one walks this path alone.
Pregnancy and infant loss is a deeply personal grief, often isolating those who are mourning. At RTZ Hope, we walk alongside bereaved parents, offering compassionate support, meaningful resources, and a community that understands. Your donation helps us continue this vital work—ensuring that families facing unimaginable loss don’t have to do it alone.
Will you join us in offering hope and healing?
With your support in 2024 (Annual Report) RTZ Hope continued to fulfill our mission of serving bereaved parents and the healthcare providers who support them through a variety of free and reduced fee programs and offerings.
Support Programs
At RTZ Hope, we walk alongside parents in their darkest moments, offering a lifeline of compassion, understanding, and hope. Since 2020, our virtual services have provided over 1,500 families with guidance when life feels out of control and every step feels impossible. Since 2014, our in-person retreats have held space for over 400 women, creating sacred moments of connection and healing in the wake of profound loss. In 2024 we supported more than 600 bereaved parents and provided $7000 in support scholarships.
Provider Education
Provider interactions during pregnancy and infant loss have a lifelong impact on a family’s healing and wellbeing. We partner with health professionals to ensure they have the training, emotional support, and resources they need to confidently care for families at one of the most tragic moments of their journey towards parenthood. In 2024 we led 28 training and education events and reached over 5000 perinatal loss providers.