Learning to Bloom Through Grief, Holly Ann Shares About Her Daughter Magnolia
The stillbirth of my daughter Magnolia shattered my world in a way I never imagined possible. In an instant, everything I had known, hoped for, and dreamed of collapsed. Becoming her mother, holding her in my arms, feeling the weight of her tiny body, and then saying goodbye so soon after was both beautiful and devastating. She was planted on Earth to Bloom in Heaven.
From the moment I said hello and goodbye all at once, I made a promise that I would honor her memory with everything I had. Though my world was forever changed, it was rebuilt with a purpose: to carry her spirit, to hold space for others who grieve, and to live a life that reflects the beauty of what was lost and the love that remains.
I am her mother. I will always be. And because of Magnolia, I am learning to bloom.
Dancing Between Grief and Joy
My rainbow baby, Marigold, brings joy and color into my heart. It is because of her that I feel so much hope and pride when telling her about the sister who came before her.
The miscarriage of my sweet Poppy Seed taught me to not take a single moment for granted and that every baby, no matter how small, deserves to have their story shared.
My heart constantly dances between fear and hope, darkness and light, and grief and joy. I continue learning how to hold space for all of these things and feels it’s a privilege to get to share my story.
Giving Hope To Families
I wrote Some Babies, a children’s book inspired from my own experience with hopes to help others in their own journey. It’s a story that honors both the joy of new life and the deep, lasting connection to the babies we have to say goodbye to too soon.
The Bloom Like Magnolia Foundation was created with a heartfelt mission: to ensure this book reaches the families who need it most, offering comfort, understanding, and a gentle reminder that every baby gone too soon is forever loved and remembered.
To get your own copy of Some Babies, click the link below.
Finding Healing and Strength Through RTZ Hope
The community I found through RTZ’s support group was transformative, and the skills I gained were invaluable. I recently attended a Return to Zero: Hope’s in-person retreat, where I was fully seen, heard, and valued. For the first time, I felt like I could breathe in my grief—honor it—without apology. It gave me the space to be vulnerable in a way I never thought was possible. RTZ Hope has been nothing short of pivotal in my healing journey. It has not only shown me the power of sharing my story, but has given me the strength to carry my grief with love. Now that I serve on the RTZ’s Community Engagement Team, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to help others find the same support that saved me, and I hope with all my heart that it continues to provide a lifeline for every bereaved parent who needs it.
GIVE IN HONOR OF MAGNOLIA
Magnolia would be turning 4 this month. Would you consider helping me to honor her memory by donating $4 to Return to Zero: Hope?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Thank you for supporting RTZ Hope. Your compassion, your presence, and your dedication help create a community of hope and healing for those who need it most. We are stronger because of you.
With gratitude,
Holly Ann
Holly Ann is passionate about helping others find hope and joy within their grief journey after she lost her daughter, Magnolia, who was stillborn, and experienced a miscarriage of her “Poppy Seed.” A former first grade teacher, Holly Ann realized the importance of not only telling her own story of love and loss, but honoring other babies gone too soon, which led to her writing a children’s book and starting a nonprofit. She lives in Oskaloosa, KS with her husband and daughter, Marigold, where she is a family photographer.
Follow her on instagram here.