The Story of Hope
In 2005, Kiley and Sean were newlyweds, excited to be pregnant with their first child. They envisioned a natural birth free from medical intervention. The pregnancy was typical until 35 weeks, when Kiley went into early labor. At the doctor's office, they discovered their son Norbert had already passed away from a liver cyst that had grown rapidly in the third trimester. He was born still the next day on July 12, 2005.
Not only was their dream for Norbert's birth and life unrealized, but losing their first child in this shocking and completely unexpected way shattered them. At the hospital, the medical staff was unprepared, the resources were sparse, and Kiley and Sean were left to navigate their grief with almost no support. They knew that had to change.
In 2014, they made the film Return to Zero, believing that sharing their story could help break the silence and stigma around stillbirth and support hope and healing. What began as a grassroots movement became a global community, reaching across continents and connecting thousands of bereaved families who had only ever known grief in solitude.
That community became RTZ Hope, a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that no family faces pregnancy or infant loss alone.
RTZ Hope today
What began as one family's loss has grown into a national nonprofit serving thousands of bereaved families and care providers. Today, RTZ HOPE offers virtual support groups, healing retreats for bereaved mothers, evidence-based provider training, and a national directory of loss-informed care providers. Our work is guided by the belief that no one should have to grieve alone and that every family deserves compassionate, informed care.
