Recognizing pregnancy & infant loss remembrance day
Danyelle Burke North
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Wednesday is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. The annual day honors the babies gone too soon.
In the United States, about 1/4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, and roughly 1/160 pregnancies end in stillbirth. It’s something KYMA’s Melissa Zaremba knows about first hand.
Locals Melissa Zaremba and Kurt Nelson lost their baby this year and say they relive the hurt and pain daily. They want to remind families going through the same pain that they aren’t alone.
Melissa and Kurt found out they were pregnant early this year. They were excited when they found out they were having a baby girl. But after one doctor’s appointment, they heard news that forever changed their lives…that they had lost their baby girl.
Onvida Health’s Perinatal Palliative Care Coordinator Jenn Driscoll says each year, thousands of families experience the heartbreak of losing a baby. She says the care team tries to do everything possible to honor each baby and support parents through such unimaginable loss.
“We take photos of the babies. We create keepsakes like handprints, footprints, molds,” said Driscoll. “It’s all about giving families the chance to create meaningful memories and say goodbye in their own way.”
Melissa and Kurt say they re-live the hurt and pain daily. They want to remind families going through the same pain that they aren’t alone.
“I didn’t realize that it was that common that people go through this,” said Kurt.
“It’s just so common and people don’t realize how common this is and how often it happens every day, and we just want people to know that we’re there for them and that they’re not alone,” said Melissa Zaremba.
Locals can participate in the annual Walk to Remember event to honor the precious lives that have gone too soon.
The walk is November 1 at Gateway Park. Whether you personally experienced loss or just want to come to show support, it’s a time of remembrance, healing, and community.