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Type of loss: Stillbirth More about this story: In this episode we chat down with David Corvi as he shares the story of his son, Charles Martin Corvi. What begins as a beautiful, ordinary autumn weekend—family hikes through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, laughter at home, and the quiet anticipation of welcoming a new baby—turns into a moment that would forever change their lives. Just days before his due date, David and his wife Katherine are faced with the unimaginable: the sudden loss of their son. David walks us through the joy, the shock, and the lasting imprint of that day—the moments captured on video, and the one that lives only in memory. He shares openly about fatherhood in grief, the weight of unanswered questions, and the love that continues for Charlie. Charles’ life, though brief, was full of meaning. And his story is one that will stay with you. Learn more about The Charles Martin Corvi Fund here.Purchase a copy of David's book "Dear Charlie...Letters to My Son: A Father's Journey of Loss, Grief, and Remembrance"

Grief has a way of changing everything, but within that change, there can also be space for growth. In this episode, we talk with one of our favorite guests Pamela Presler, to explore how grief, while deeply painful and complex, can also open the door to self-discovery and transformation. Together, we unpack what it means to navigate loss while continuing to grow, and how honoring your grief can coexist with finding meaning, purpose, and even strength along the way.

All in for Allegheny is a special campaign dedicated to supporting families in our local community who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to provide emotional support, compassionate guidance, and financial assistance for burial, cremation, memorialization, and counseling services— helping families feel supported and less alone as they navigate their grief. We are inviting 100 families to give $100 or more in support of this effort. While this campaign focuses on families in Allegheny County, you do not need to live locally to participate. Families and supporters from anywhere who feel called to honor their baby’s life in this way are welcome to join us. Families and babies memorialized through this campaign will be lovingly honored at our Pittsburgh Memorial Walk this September, a time to gather, remember, and hold space together. Support this campaign here.

In this episode Julie and Khristina talk about what real support looks like after the loss of a baby. Drawing from their own experiences and the countless stories shared with Emma’s Footprints over the years, they unpack the practical, emotional, and deeply human ways people can show up for grieving parents—and the ways support can sometimes miss the mark. This episode is a compassionate guide for anyone wanting to support loved ones through pregnancy or infant loss, and an affirming reminder to grieving parents that their needs are valid, their feelings matter, and they are not alone.

Type of loss: Early term loss, life-limiting diagnosis, multiple losses More about this story: Tabby shares the story of her two precious babies, Elias Matthew Barton and Eden Marie Barton. Tabby’s journey to motherhood began with many challenges. Diagnosed with uterus didelphys, diminished ovarian reserve, and fallopian tubes that never attached to her ovaries, natural conception was not possible. IVF became the only path forward. After multiple rounds, Tabby and her husband welcomed three embryos. One resulted in an early term loss, another didn’t implant, and their final embryo became their daughter, Eden Marie. Eden’s story is extraordinary from the very beginning. Born at 32 weeks and 3 days, she entered the world with multiple rare and complex diagnoses, including Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Pulmonary Hypertension, ALCAPA, and PAPVR. Despite arriving two months early and facing overwhelming odds, Eden surprised her medical team again and again. She was strong, spirited, and wonderfully unique—known for her sass, her bows, her blankets, and her love of mirrors, mobiles, and snuggles. Tabby shares the emotional journey of advocating for Eden across eight renowned children’s hospitals, hoping for a surgical path forward. Each declined, acknowledging the complexity of Eden’s anatomy and the low chance of survival. Yet Eden continued to shine. She fought with a fierce, radiant strength for 105 days in the NICU before going to her heavenly home.

Type of loss: Life limiting diagnosis, Infant loss More about Sarah's story: Josie’s story is one of unimaginable strength, resilience, and love. From a prenatal diagnosis of a congenital heart defect and Down syndrome, to navigating a pregnancy with little support, Sarah opens up about the challenges she faced long before Josie entered the world. Born three months early at just 1 lb 14 oz, doctors warned she likely wouldn’t survive—but Josie had other plans. Over the course of six months, Josie defied the odds time and time again. Sarah shares of the three months they spent in a step-down unit, the hope surrounding Josie’s heart procedure, and the devastating complications that followed—including blood clots, strokes, infections, and ultimately cardiac arrest. Even after being placed on ECMO and fighting her way off, Josie’s body had endured more than most ever will. She passed peacefully in her mother’s arms, leaving behind a legacy far greater than her time on earth. Sarah honors Josie through two nonprofits: The Threefold Cord Project, which provides comfort boxes to NICU and pediatric cardiac ICU families, and Josie’s Wind Chimes of Hope, which gifts wind chimes to loss families within the Down syndrome community. Learn more about The Threefold Cord Project here.

Type of loss: Stillbirth, Delayed twin interval birth More about Kara's Story: In this episode, Kara Catalano shares her journey through infertility, enduring seven unsuccessful rounds of IVF after being told she had less than a 1% chance of conceiving with her own eggs. On the eighth round, she finally received the news she had been praying for — she was pregnant with twins. But at her first ultrasound, the joy quickly turned to fear when she was told she should terminate one of the babies within 24–48 hours due to concerns about fluid levels. Kara opens up about the complex pregnancy that followed, including multiple losses and the experience of delayed twin interval birth, as she honors the love she has for each of her babies. Trusting her instincts, Kara chose to wait. A week later, a new doctor confirmed that both babies were doing well and there was no longer any need to consider termination. For a moment, hope returned. But at 17 weeks and 5 days, Kara went into spontaneous labor and delivered her daughter stillborn. In the midst of that devastating loss, something extraordinary happened — her son remained safely in the womb. What followed was a rare and complex medical situation known as a delayed twin interval birth. Kara carried her son for another 12 weeks before delivering him prematurely.

Type of Loss: Twin loss, stillbirth More about this story: Cheyanne Horne shares the story of her twins, Mila and Maverick. Cheyanne’s journey to her babies was layered and complex — marked by infertility, medical complications, and the emotional weight that comes with fighting so hard to grow your family. After experiencing two previous pregnancies that resulted in her living children, this pregnancy carried both hope and history. But this chapter would unfold differently.

Type of loss: Stillbirth More about Lauren's story: Join us as we talk with with Lauren Cicero as she shares the story of her son, Joseph Anthony, Jr. Nearly halfway through her pregnancy, Lauren experienced a catastrophic uterine rupture caused by undiagnosed placenta percreta — a life-threatening condition where the placenta grows through the uterine wall. What followed was an emergency surgery to stop severe internal bleeding. Her son, Joseph Anthony, Jr., was stillborn. Lauren nearly lost her own life. In order to save her, doctors performed a full hysterectomy. She received 16 blood transfusions. At just 33 years old, Lauren awoke not only to the devastating loss of her baby boy, but also to the sudden loss of her fertility.

Type of loss: TMFR, Life-limiting diagnosis More about Elizabeth's story: In this episode, Elizabeth Beadle shares the story of her son, Weston Arthur Beadle. Elizabeth and her husband were overjoyed to learn they were expecting their first baby boy. But at their anatomy scan, they received devastating news — doctors identified concerning markers suggesting Weston may have had a severe genetic condition causing shortened limbs and likely complications incompatible with life. In the face of unimaginable heartbreak, Elizabeth and her husband made the loving and agonizing decision to terminate the pregnancy for medical reasons (TFMR), knowing their son would likely pass before, during, or shortly after birth. At 24 weeks and 3 days, Elizabeth delivered Weston vaginally. In this conversation, Elizabeth shares her experience in her own words — the shock, the decision-making process, the grief, and the enduring love she carries for her son. This episode holds space for the complexity of TFMR, honoring the parents who make impossible choices rooted in profound love.

Not every episode has to hold tears, sometimes, it’s about laughter, connection, and getting to know the hearts behind the mission. In this lighthearted episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother, we’re welcoming our newest team member, Lauren Kraynik, Executive Assistant at Emma’s Footprints, to the podcast! Lauren gives us a glimpse into her life behind the scenes — from her role supporting our team and keeping everything running smoothly, to her life as a wife to John and mom to Bradley and Henry.

Type of Loss: Stillbirth, Multiple Losses More about Jade's Story: In this episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother, Jade Buckley shares the story of her children, Arlo and Emmie, and the profound losses her family has endured. After welcoming her son Lucas in 2020, Jade and her partner decided to grow their family again, knowing pregnancy is physically challenging for her. Her pregnancy with Arlo was complicated, and at 37 weeks, Jade went to the hospital expecting monitoring and answers. Instead, she learned that Arlo no longer had a heartbeat. He was stillborn in February 2024 due to a true knot in his umbilical cord. Still longing to add to their family, Jade became pregnant again with Emmie. During an 18-week appointment, Emmie’s heartbeat could not be found, and Jade later learned her daughter died of heart failure.

As one year comes to a close and another begins, this final episode of our holiday series offers space to reflect, breathe, and look forward with gentle hope. Together, we recap the moments, themes, and lessons of 2025—both the heavy and the meaningful—while creating space to acknowledge the continued presence of grief alongside growth. We also look ahead to 2026 with intention, discussing how to carry our babies with us into a new year, set realistic expectations, and find grace for whatever comes. This episode is an invitation to reflect without pressure and to step forward with tenderness and courage.

Grief changes us—and often, it deepens our compassion in ways we never expected. In this episode, we explore intentional acts of kindness as a way to honor our babies and their legacy. Whether it’s paying it forward, serving another grieving family, volunteering, donating in your child’s name, or simply showing up for someone who is hurting, these acts become living tributes to the love we carry. Together, we reflect on how kindness can be healing, how it connects us to purpose, and how our babies continue to make an impact through our hearts and hands.

Rituals create rhythm, grounding, and special space for remembrance—especially in seasons filled with memory and emotion. In this episode of our holiday series, we talk about what rituals can look like after loss and how families can thoughtfully incorporate them into everyday life and holiday traditions. From lighting candles and saying names out loud to annual acts of remembrance and quiet moments of reflection, we explore how ritual doesn’t have to be elaborate to be powerful. Join us as we discuss how these sacred practices can help us grieve, remember, and continue carrying our babies with us in intentional ways.