Love & Loss
Love & Loss
Joy Van Staalduinen
At Love & Loss we aim to shed light on pregnancy and infant loss. We talk with parents and specialists in the loss community as they give us insight to their experiences and expertise. Love & Loss is not a substitute for clinical therapy. We encourage all grieving families to seek council from a specialist.
Melinda Peterson: Oak's Story
Melinda is an Intuitive Health Practitioner, bereaved mother, maternal death survivor, registered nurse (RN), adoptive mother, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Scarlit Coaching, a integrative health movement for women to find joy and true healing through reconnecting to the wisdom of our bodies. Despite adequate prenatal care, Melinda lost her son Oak and almost her life in 2014 at 25 weeks due to a missed ectopic pregnancy. Through her journey of regaining strength and channeling grief, Melinda was called to nursing, volunteering, and publicly sharing what she experienced in her near-death experience. She was Board Chair of RTZ: HOPE, a nonprofit for bereaved families, and is still an active volunteer with the organization. Prior to becoming a nurse, she worked as an environmental scientist. Melinda lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, toddler daughter, and poodle.
Oct 15, 2023
45 min
Kirsten Hopfensperger: Theo's Story
Growing up in a family that had a passion for writing and drawing, Kirsten was influenced by generation after generation of writers and artists. She has shared these passions since childhood, but did not self-publish her first book, rearranged, until her late twenties. She was moved to share her work after going through loss, grief and healing. In writing, she experienced light after loss. Her first book, rearranged, encompasses her journey to healing and was the winner of the Indies Today’s 2022 Best Poetry Award. Her second book, I Love You From Heaven, is a children’s book about angel babies and children in Heaven. When not writing, Kirsten can be found spending time with her husband and two children. She is active in the pursuit to find wholeness and soaking up as much family time as she can, whether that be at their family cabins or snuggled up with a blanket and a good book at home with her kids. She believes in sharing hope for others who may be struggling, and has a captivating vulnerability to her work. https://kirstenhopfensperger.com/
Oct 2, 2023
34 min
RTZ Hope
RTZ HOPE is a national non-profit organization that provides holistic support, resources, and community for all people who have experienced unimaginable loss during the journey to parenthood. No matter if your loss is recent or in the past, RTZ HOPE is dedicated to empowering parents to seek whatever paths to healing are right for you. We come alongside anyone who would otherwise suffer in silence. As impossible as it may feel right now, we want you to know there is hope. You will never forget your baby, but you will find meaning and experience joy again. https://rtzhope.org/
May 23, 2023
35 min
Natasha de Sousa: Leo's Story
Natasha de Sousa is a mother, wife, avid reader, and aspiring author. In 2013, she lost her son Leo at 23 weeks of gestation. Since Leo's passing, she has been actively involved in the pregnancy and infant loss community by volunteering for various organizations. She is currently the Board Chair for RTZ Hope (@rtzhope), a national non-profit organization that provides holistic support, resources, and community for all people who have experienced a loss during the journey to parenthood. Originally born in Brazil to Indian parents, Natasha grew up in Canada and currently lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and 3 living children.
May 1, 2023
49 min
Hadeer El-Hinddawi: Bereavement Doula
Hadeer is a certified doula in infertility and infant and pregnancy loss. She has helped many people pass through the grief. She herself experienced 6 losses back-to-back. After her Termination for Medical Reason (TFMR), she couldn't navigate the grief alone. She took up the doula course to help her understand what she's experiencing. She has had multiple miscarriages and a late-term missed miscarriage at 38 weeks when she delivered a stillborn boy. With her wealth of knowledge and empathy, she is here to assist you on your journey. She can be reached on Instagram @snowflakesonroses
Apr 1, 2023
28 min
Hadeer El-Hindawi: Multiple Losses
Hadeer is a certified doula in infertility and infant and pregnancy loss. She has helped many people pass through the grief. She herself experienced 6 losses back-to-back. After her Termination for Medical Reason (TFMR), she couldn't navigate the grief alone. She took up the doula course to help her understand what she's experiencing. She has had multiple miscarriages and a late-term missed miscarriage at 38 weeks when she delivered a stillborn boy. With her wealth of knowledge and empathy, she is here to assist you on your journey. She can be reached on Instagram @snowflakesonroses
Mar 2, 2023
33 min
Michele Benyo: Good Grief Parenting
Michele Benyo is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®, early childhood parent coach, and the founder of Good Grief Parenting. After her 6-year-old son died of cancer, her 3-year-old daughter said, “Mommy, half of me is gone.” This heartbreaking statement focused Michele’s career as an early childhood parenting expert on the impact of grief on young children, particularly after child loss. Michele equips parents and other caring adults to recognize young children’s grief and to provide the support children need to build resilience and cope well with any loss. The desire of Michele’s heart is to see families thrive after loss and live forward toward a future bright with possibilities and even joy. LINKS: www.goodgriefparenting.com https://www.instagram.com/goodgriefparenting/ https://www.facebook.com/goodgriefparenting/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentsraisingyoungsiblings
Feb 1, 2023
41 min
Amy Watson: Smooth Stones Coaching
Amy is a certified life and grief coach. She combines her own experiences with stillbirth, miscarriage and pregnancy after loss with powerful mindset tools to help moms find themselves again after baby loss. She is the host of the Smooth Stones podcast. Along with helping her clients she loves her family, her faith and being in the mountains. https://smoothstonescoaching.com/ https://www.instagram.com/amy.smoothstonescoaching/ https://www.facebook.com/smoothstonescoaching
Jan 15, 2023
36 min
Amy Watson: Lauren & River's Story
Amy is a certified life and grief coach. She combines her own experiences with stillbirth, miscarriage and pregnancy after loss with powerful mindset tools to help moms find themselves again after baby loss. She is the host of the Smooth Stones podcast. Along with helping her clients she loves her family, her faith and being in the mountains.
Jan 1, 2023
50 min
Josephine Atluri- Multiple Losses
Josephine Atluri is a certified life coach and an expert in meditation and mindfulness, helping thousands of people overcome adversity to find joy. A graduate of the University of Chicago, Josephine followed her passion for total wellness and supports and empowers organizations and individuals. Plus, her experience creating her modern day family of seven children via In Vitro fertilization, international adoption and surrogacy inspires her work as a highly sought-after fertility, pregnancy, and parenting mindfulness coach. jatluri.com
Sep 1, 2022
35 min
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