Love and Grief, Side by Side By Natasha de Sousa
My son's name is Leonardo. He was born on October 22, 2013 and passed away 62 minutes after being born. It's hard for me to believe that it has been 12 years that he's been gone.
The grief that I've experienced over these past years has changed, but it is still there. From time to time, when I speak about Leo to others, I do still shed some tears. I suspect this will always be the case.
One thing that I've learned about being a mother is how beautiful and deep our love for our kids can be. I have only spent a few minutes with my son and have no idea of what sort of teenager he would have been by now - but I know I love him and I miss him.
I remember reading once that grief is a consequence of love.
I have loved him from the time I was carrying him, I loved him when his little body got cremated and I love him now, 13 years later. I will love and grieve Leo everyday of my life.
Finding Healing and Strength Through RTZ Hope
Being part of the RTZ Board means a great deal to me. I genuinely value the opportunity to stay connected to such a compassionate, inspiring community. It brings me comfort and meaning to be surrounded by others who understand this journey, and I feel grateful to contribute in a way that helps support and uplift families like mine.
This October, as I honor Leo’s short but beautiful life, I’ve poured my heart into organizing RTZ’s HOPEtober Auction. It’s a way to give back and help other families find hope and healing after loss. Each bid, each donation, and each shared story feels like a small act of remembrance—a way to celebrate Leo’s life by lighting the way for others.
If you feel moved to join me, I invite you to take part in the HOPEtober Auction and support RTZ Hope in Leo’s honor. Together, we can ensure that no family walks this road alone.
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.
