“Now two years out from losing Cherry Bean, I continue to love her and be reminded of her in little ways. Whether it’s seeing cherries, or my sister or Mom sending me little reminders, it’s heartwarming to know that she will never be forgotten.

While I shared my story last year, it wasn’t until months later that I shared my loss on social media (LinkedIn, since I got off other platforms during my intense period of grief). Once it became that public, I had old acquaintances and close friends that reached out with their support. It has not only become more freeing for myself, but others have told me how much my story has impacted them—and how they see me, as they had no idea what I’d been through.

I believe that I gained courage with the support of R.T.Z. HOPE, not only to bare my story but to honor the memory of my daughter. I’m a proud mama and am so grateful for my love for Cherry Bean.

RTZ Hope allowed me to heal to a place I would never be without their resources and support. I needed more than therapy, I felt isolated and couldn't function day-to-day. Luckily RTZ Hope was holding an in-person retreat just a few hours from home, a couple months after my loss. The 4 days and 3 nights of intensive workshops and community truly changed my mindset. It gave me tools I could use to better process the loss of my daughter, rituals, and physical reminders to keep her close, so that I could begin to turn the pain into acceptance and beauty. Most importantly, I joined a supportive and empathetic community of women that knew what I was going through, no matter how our losses differed.

Beyond the retreat, I discovered articles on their blog that I could share with my friends and family to help them understand what I was going through. I joined a support group specific to TMFR, which gave me solidarity and a commitment to our right of choice, particularly since Roe vs Wade had just been overturned. I even participated in a holiday workshop to make art that brought me closer to my baby. There is never a shortage of ways that RTZ hasn't figured out how to help us in the loss community, whether the birthing parent or partner. I consider the women I've met through the RTZ Hope community some of my closest and dearest friends today, and would encourage any person dealing with loss to find community to accelerate the healing process.”