Honoring Our Angels: Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day

The loss of a child is one of the most heartbreaking experiences a family can endure—and yet, it's so often left unspoken. On October 15th, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, we’re given space to break that silence and honor the little lives gone too soon.

Today, as candles are lit in a global Wave of Light, I want to share my family’s story - with all its pain, love, and hope - with you.

As a NICU nurse working in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was always floored by the beauty and frailty of life. While my profession made me encounter death every day, there was nothing that could’ve prepared me for the loss of my own child.

Two years after having our first baby boy, the hubs and I were over the moon about being pregnant again. Our business was just beginning to flourish, and our first child was happy, healthy, and wonderfully chubby. Now, our family was growing; what more could I have wanted?

But just weeks in, I suffered a devastating miscarriage, followed by a traumatic D&C. I felt emotionally and physically devastated. I cried, wrote letters to my unborn child, and tried to grasp the whys and hows. The hardest part was the questions I asked myself:

What did I do wrong? Is this MY fault?

I’d love to tell you there are tips to help make the pain go away faster - but there are no shortcuts in grieving.  Now that time has passed, I know every tear shed was a step towards healing. For anyone experiencing something similar, I invite you to fully grieve...but have faith that everything happens for a reason. It may sound inconceivable or cliché, but you can find light in the darkness.

Healing didn’t happen overnight. But with time—and love—we slowly found our way back to hope. Three years later, after my husband and I were ready, we proudly welcomed a healthy, 7.5 lbs, 20-inch baby girl into the world: Ellianna G. 💗 

When I look at my family now, I count my blessings and know they are complete: a loving husband by my side, two wonderful children in each hand, and a little angel who lives in my heart.

Join me in a tradition of lighting a candle at 7 p.m. local time as part of a "Wave of Light" to honor our babies who are lost too soon. The candles are lit for at least one hour, creating a continuous 24-hour wave of light as it moves across different time zones worldwide.  

How to participate in the Wave of Light:

- Light a candle: At 7 p.m. in your local time zone, light a candle in your home. 
- Keep it lit: Leave the candle burning for at least one hour to be part of the continuous wave of light. 
- Share your remembrance: You can share a photo of your candle on social media with the hashtag #WaveOfLight to join the virtual remembrance. 


More ways we can help process and heal...

🤍  Say Their Name. Speaking a baby's name is a powerful way to honor their memory and affirm their existence.

🤍 Attend an Event. Communities nationwide hold candlelight vigils, memorial walks, and other ceremonies.

🤍 Plant Something. A tree, a flower, or a garden can serve as a living memorial.

🤍 Share Online. Use #PregnancyAndInfantLossRemembranceDay to connect with the global community of remembrance.

I'd love to hear your personal experiences and similar stories if and when you're ready. Together we can help each other heal and remember.