Lincoln non-profit brings hope and healing to those on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
A Lincoln non-profit hosted an event on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
It was for people like Ana. At 22 weeks, her daughter’s heart just stopped.
“When this happens to you and it feels like you are going crazy and you don’t understand what’s going on and it’s really confusing,” Lincoln resident, Ana Velez said.
Annually in the United States, nearly 90,000 babies die before their first birthday.
The non-profit called ‘No Footprint Too Small’ can offer support to the mothers and their families who have experienced such loss.
“There is a quote that says there is no footprint too small to leave an imprint on this world and I truly believe that and so our non-profit is very intentional about acknowledging pregnancy and infant loss at every stage during pregnancy,” Founder of No Footprint Too Small, Jolie Vega said.
The event on Tuesday started with chili and cinnamon rolls. It’s a chance for those to connect with one another.
It ended with a candlelight vigil. Each one with a written note, a message to honor a little one gone too soon.
“We’re not alone, there is a lot of families in this walk of life that go through this and when you are going through the process you are saying why me and with this we are saying why not me, this can happen to anyone,” Velez said.
This day happens nationwide, the candle lighting at 7 p.m. creates a continuous “wave of light” around the world.
“They can acknowledge and celebrate and grieve the life of their babies and they do so as a community,” Vega said.
Vega started her non-profit because she noticed a gap in the care after you leave the hospital.
Vega reaches out to those like Ana. It has inspired her to make something good out of the tragic event in her life, volunteering and helping others.
“With events like this, it’s a way you can join other families that have gone through the same and ya give more to your baby and tell them that you remember them,” Velez said.
There are some services and types of support No Footprint Too Small provides, at little to no cost.
