Pregnancy, infant loss group launches annual fundraising campaign in 10th year

CORALVILLE — No Foot Too Small, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of pregnancy loss and infant mortality, has launched its sixth annual fundraising campaign to honor families affected while bringing them joy in remembering those lost.

Angels in the Outfield, an 11-week baseball-themed fundraising campaign, invites families to create teams in honor of their “angels” and compete in weekly, family-friendly activities. Through the process, families who have suffered pregnancy losses or the death of an infant can design custom team shirts with their child’s name, participate in new challenges revealed each week and earn prizes as they raise money to support the organization’s mission of uniting families going through similar challenges.

“It’s always been my belief that we can grieve alone and spend time in sadness, but there are few places that offer joy and celebration,” said Robin Boudreau, co-founder and executive director. “We can grieve loss or celebrate the gift they were to us. We strive to provide places for celebration.”

  Buy Photo

Boudreau estimates that about 25% of pregnancies end in loss and said one of the biggest challenges facing affected families is the silence surrounding the grief. Past standards in health care, which often encouraged families to “move on” without making space to acknowledge the loss, played a role in making the grief worse.

“It has taken generations for us to bring that to light and make it something we can talk about. We’re normalizing it,” she said. “If all we ever do is give a voice to infant and pregnancy loss, we will have won and normalized something so common.”

Acknowledging these losses while celebrating the gifts infants were to families helps them traverse the grief of loss while highlighting joy for families in their path forward.

Boudreau founded the organization with her husband, Ryan, after celebrating what would have been the first birthday of their son. Their son, Beau, died immediately after he was born in January 2013.

“What was weighing on me was that nobody talks about infant and pregnancy loss,” she said.

After inviting the public to his birthday party through an article, the organization was founded in 2014 and has grown significantly. In addition to their annual gala and 12 events on the calendar this year, their organization has blossomed into 90 support groups across nine cities in Iowa.

While other organizations serve these families in different ways, such as research or assistance with funeral expenses, she wanted No Foot Too Small to be a community where families could find others who understand what they’re going through — what can sometimes be the coexistence of grief and joy in remembrance of their angels.

In addition to support, the organization’s mission includes building birthing and bereavement suites.

“So you’re no longer alone, and surrounded by people who know how to talk about that pain and grief,” Boudreau said.

How to help

If you know a parent or family who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss, Boudreau’s advice is simple: talk about the child, say their name, and ask questions. Inviting the conversation can do wonders for helping families through an emotional journey.

“Avoiding it is the worst thing we can do,” she said. “Sometimes we don’t know what to say, but showing up says plenty. If you don’t know what to say, show up.”

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.