In December of 2022, my daughter Nora, the one that made me a mother, would have turned ten. Like many bereaved parents, I’ve spent ten years wondering who she would have been, and sadly I will never know. But I do know that because of her and my experience during my pregnancy after her stillbirth, I founded Pregnancy After Loss Support (PALS) in 2014. I wanted other pregnant after loss (PAL) parents to feel like they had a friend to support them during the emotional journey through grief and joy, hope and fear, which is pregnancy after loss. PALS has continued to support bereaved parents through the challenging emotional journey of pregnancy after loss, and in 2022, we have also reached some significant milestones.

In September, our Pregnancy After Loss App celebrated its first anniversary! Throughout 2022, the Pregnancy After Loss App was downloaded by more than 10,000 courageously expecting loss parents, and it offered daily educational and emotional support to those parents.

We also continued to offer in-person, virtual, and online support groups for over 20,000 parents going through PAL. Our online magazine published our Bump Day Bloggers’ inspirational pregnancy and birth stories and shared articles and resources for parents navigating life after loss. We couldn’t be more pleased that our services are helping so many!

In 2022 we also had the honor to participate with the larger pregnancy and infant loss community in awareness and advocacy work being done at the state and national levels. PALS was proud to align with PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy and other organizations at The Big PUSH to End Preventable Stillbirth event at the capitol in Washington D.C. We also attended the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Alliance Conference to help spread the word about the need for continued emotional support services for pregnancy after loss parents. Both events are more proof of what amazing work can be accomplished when the love we have for our children gone too soon sprouts out of the darkness of our loss and into the world.

To everyone who has financially supported, volunteered, or benefited from PALS services, please know that this work and growth would not have been possible without your generous hearts, support, and belief in the mission of Pregnancy After Loss Support. Because of you, we raised $14,670 at our fourth annual Waddle Walk last year, with over 110 bereaved parents and their loved ones walking to honor all their children, those they have the privilege of holding onto their hands, and those they can only hold in their hearts. Again, we are gratefully indebted to every member of the PALS community and appreciate your continued support.

Thank you,
Lindsey Henke, MSW, LICSW
Founder and Executive Director of
Pregnancy After Loss Support
Nora’s Mom