by Sarah McLean
Every expectant parent prepares for the moment they leave the hospital. No parent prepares for the moment they leave the hospital after their baby has passed away. But 10 years ago, this was the reality for Lauren MacLean and her husband, Jason, when their son and first baby, Emerson, passed away due to a rare genetic kidney disease. They found out about the condition when Lauren was 20 weeks pregnant, and decided to carry the pregnancy until Emerson was born. Emerson beat the odds that doctors initially gave him, but passed away three hours after birth.
As their new reality began to take shape around them, Jason and Lauren began attending a local support group for bereaved parents, but overall, they were surprised at how little resources there were to help them through the process of grieving, especially for a community of bereaved families that was much larger than they realized. The sad truth was that other people had lost babies, but, like Jason and Lauren, didn’t have many outlets to grieve, remember, and celebrate their babies’ lives.
So, driven by the desire for a Christian-based, peer-based support group, Lauren and a retired labor and delivery nurse with a heart for pregnancy and infant loss started Mothers of Angels through a local pregnancy resource center. Through it, they quickly formed a community of bereaved families to offer each other support and hope. As Mothers of Angels grew, it became clear how deep the need was for connection between bereaved families. In 2016, Mothers of Angels dissolved, and Jason and Lauren, together with five other bereaved families, created a nonprofit organization called the Still Remembered Project.
The Still Remembered Project is not just a nonprofit organization. It is a community that offers hope, comfort, and healing to those living every day with something the rest of us can’t begin to fathom. SRP consists of six different projects, designed to support every member of the bereaved community and every aspect of the grief journey. These include Still Missed miscarriage care packages, which contain remembrance keepsakes, Sibling Bags to help children understand and cope with the loss of a sibling, Stitched with Love crocheted blankets, hats, and booties, and Still Supported monthly meetings to offer all bereaved mothers a safe space as they navigate their grief journey.
One of the organization’s projects is its Memory Boxes, which are handed out to families who lose babies throughout the Pittsburgh region. With items like a haircut kit and a picture frame, these boxes offer what Jason, Lauren, and so many other parents wish they had; the chance to remember and cherish their baby’s brief life. Still Remembered also offers specialized items like Christmas ornaments, so that lost babies who can’t be here can still be a part of the family celebration. These projects are designed to serve bereaved families not just immediately when they lose their baby, but as they continue in their grief journey.
The Still Remembered Project is also committed to raising community awareness around pregnancy and early infant loss through its project Still Together. Many of the board members, including Lauren, travel around to the hospitals they partner with, sharing their stories and working with medical professionals on how they can be there for their patients. They also host events throughout the year to help raise awareness and provide opportunities for families to remember their babies.
The Still Remembered Project is about celebrating the lives of these babies as much as helping bereaved parents heal. SRP’s mission is to be able to serve the bereaved community in every stage of the grief journey, and provide hope and comfort as they heal. If you would like more information about the Still Remembered Project, or if you would like to partner with them, please reach out at their website, stillremembered.org.
