Confessions of a Grieving Mother

Type of loss: Life-limiting diagnosis, infant loss, twin loss More about this story: In this episode, we are honored to share the story of Emily Riggi and her beloved daughter, Abigail. Emily delivered her identical twin girls at 32 weeks and quickly realized that something was different. While one daughter continued to grow stronger, Abigail faced challenge after challenge. After countless tests...

Type of loss: Stillbirth More about this story: In this episode, we talk with Kira Tietje as she shares the story of her daughter, Olivia. During what should have been a routine 26-week appointment, Kira’s world changed forever when no heartbeat could be found. Although Olivia had a healthy anatomy scan and a heartbeat at 22 weeks, it was discovered that she had stopped growing around 19 weeks and...

Type of loss: Early-term losses, Ectopic Pregnancy, Chemical Pregnancy, Blighted Ovum More about this story: In this episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother , Julie talks with Heather to share a story that spans infertility, pregnancy loss, medical trauma, and the complicated, enduring hope that lives alongside grief. Heather and her husband Brian were first diagnosed with unexplained infertil...

In this Father’s Day episode, Tracy and Julie hold space for a side of grief that is often quiet, private, and deeply felt—fatherhood after loss. Through a series of heartfelt letters written by loss dads, they read words addressed to their babies and to their grief itself. These letters are tender, honest, and unfiltered—offering glimpses into love that has no physical place to land, and the ongo...

In this episode, Julie and Falon explore one of the most tender and complicated parts of grief: identity after loss. Through honest reflection and shared lived experience, they talk about what changes when loss becomes part of your story and how it reshapes everything from how you see yourself to how you move through the world. They reflect on the moment it becomes clear you are no longer the pers...

Type of Loss: Early-term loss More about this episode: In this episode, we talk with Laura Moore as she shares her journey through pregnancy loss, infertility, and unexpected hope. After welcoming her son Carson, Laura experienced two early pregnancy losses just months apart. What followed was a long and painful road marked by infertility, unanswered questions, countless tests, and the heartbreaki...

In this special birthday episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother , Tracy and Julie are joined by a very special guest — Tracy’s mom, Jodi — as they come together to remember and celebrate Emma. Through stories, memories, laughter, and honest conversation, they reflect on Emma, the lasting impact she continues to have on their family, and what it means to carry love and grief side by side throu...

In this special Mother’s Day episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother , Tracy and Julie once again hold space for the voices of bereaved mothers by reading deeply personal letters written to their babies. Through words filled with love, longing, heartbreak, and remembrance, these mothers share the realities of carrying their children in their hearts while navigating life without them in their a...

Type of loss: TFMR, Life-limiting diagnosis More about this episode: In this episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother , we talk with Lucy Livesey, a mother whose love for her daughter continues to ripple across the world. In 2017, Lucy and her family faced the unthinkable—making the heartbreaking decision to terminate their much-wanted daughter, Ellie, after a devastating heart abnormality was...

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...

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 c...

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...

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...

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...

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, do...

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...

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 pregn...

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 surg...

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...

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 o...

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 w...

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...

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....

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 momen...

The holidays can make loss feel even heavier—especially when the absence is so deeply felt. In this special holiday series kickoff, we explore the power of physical remembrance and the many ways grieving parents and families honor their babies during this season and beyond. From memory boxes and ornaments to tattoos, journals, and sacred spaces in the home, this episode invites you to reflect on h...