The Silent Footprints | Stillbirth, Miscarriage, SIDS, Stigma, Baby Loss, Grief, SHINE for Autumn Act, Advocate, Legislation, Infant Loss, Pregnancy Loss, Maternity

Send us Fan Mail It never gets old. While scrolling Instagram, I came across Janelle Batucan's page and watched a video of her grieving so deeply that it took me right back to my own journey of loss. My heart ached for her, and I felt led to reach out and ask if she would be willing to share her story. Even with grief still fresh, Janelle courageously said yes. So often we see “picture-perfec...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Gentle New Year. As we begin 2026, I wanted to slow down and revisit the heart behind Silent Footprints. This podcast was created to honor the precious little lives that were with us for only a moment, yet changed us forever. My hope has always been to walk beside families on the quiet and often unseen road of pregnancy and infant loss — offering comfort, support, and faith-...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, Ashley Waters bravely steps out of her comfort zone to share the deeply personal story of her son, Daniel. Daniel was Ashley’s second child — a little boy eagerly anticipated and expected to arrive in April 2023. But just one week before his due date, during a routine appointment, Ashley and her family received devastating news: Daniel’s heart had stopped beati...

Send us Fan Mail This Christmas, we reflect on Luke 2:1–20 and the miraculous story of Jesus’ birth. Join us online on Christmas Eve as Pastor Dan Gillman from Calvary Chapel Shreveport shares a powerful message filled with hope, truth, and encouragement. The holidays can be incredibly hard, especially for those walking through grief and loss. This message is a reminder that you are deeply loved a...

Send us Fan Mail Today, Lisa Rowell reflects on Luke 1 and the deep, overwhelming love God has for us. She shares how the Christmas story can feel very different after the loss of a baby—how familiar verses take on new meaning when viewed through the lens of grief. In this episode, Lisa talks about the birth of Jesus and how much God loves us as He willingly gave His own Son so we could have direc...

Send us Fan Mail Three years ago, I met Nina Doherty in Washington, D.C., where we were both advocating for the SHINE for Autumn Act and the Stillbirth Prevention Act . Today, Nina opens up about the heartbreaking loss of her grandbaby, Stella Joy — a tragedy that brought a double portion of grief as she mourned both her grandchild and the pain her daughter was enduring. Nina, a mother of three wi...

Send us Fan Mail  In today’s episode, Lisa Rowell offers heartfelt encouragement for anyone navigating grief during the holiday season. Whether your loss is recent or many years have passed, the holidays can stir deep emotions. Lisa shares simple, compassionate suggestions to help you cope, create space for your feelings, and care for yourself during this time. Most importantly, she reminds you th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share a deeply meaningful moment—watching a longtime friend of mine, Robin Kent, officially be sworn in as a CASA worker. As a former foster child who once had my own CASA advocate, a kind woman from England named Mrs. Shirley Williams, this experience felt incredibly full-circle. During the ceremony, I also met my friend’s supervisor, Bersheika Player-Harris. S...

Send us Fan Mail I first met Dr. Kerri Aronson in 2024 when she was pregnant and advocating in Washington, D.C. — like so many of us there, determined to get the attention of our legislators and bring awareness to the heartbreak of preventable stillbirth. Our hope was simple: to show why bills like the SHINE for Autumn Act ( H.R. 5469 / S. 2858 ) are so desperately needed. Kerri’s story began as s...

Send us Fan Mail Brianna Sistrunk, Mrs. Alabama America 2025, is the perfect example of beauty, strength, and purpose. At first glance, you might assume her journey has been easy—but behind the crown is a story of unimaginable loss and unwavering faith. In 2015, Brianna faced the heartbreak of losing her daughter, Madison Reign, who was born still at 19 weeks gestation. She has also endured an ect...

Send us Fan Mail Finally, more organizations are beginning to acknowledge the deep pain and grief families experience when they lose a baby within the first three months of pregnancy. Since launching the Juliana Grace Ministry, I’ve heard countless stories from mothers who feel isolated after a miscarriage—a word I absolutely hate. Too often, doctors and hospital staff make insensitive comments, l...

Send us Fan Mail  As we close out the month of October—an especially meaningful time as it marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month —I want to take a moment to share a few words of encouragement and some exciting news from Senator Kennedy’s office. After attending the Wave of Light  event hosted by my friend Samantha at LSU St. Mary’s Hospital, I was reminded of how deeply God loves you. In...

Send us Fan Mail I first met Jen at a celebration dinner in Washington, D.C. Her joyful spirit immediately stood out—but like so many of us, her advocacy for Stillbirth Awareness comes from a deeply personal place. In April 2023, Jen lost her son at 37 weeks and 5 days gestation. Feeling isolated in her grief, she turned to Google and discovered Empty Arms Bereavement Support , where she found com...

Send us Fan Mail I’ve been following Sarah Lingle on Instagram since 2024, drawn to her faith-filled encouragement for mothers like me who have experienced the loss of a baby. Sarah’s story began while she was already serving as a doula. In January 2021, she faced unimaginable heartbreak when she lost her first baby, lovingly named Peanut. In this episode, Sarah shares the deeply personal story of...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode wraps up my trip to Washington, D.C. from last month — and what an incredible finish it was! I had two days left, and it began with the SHINE for Autumn Act being introduced on the House side. I spent the day meeting with several Louisiana leaders — congressmen, congresswomen, and senators — and to my surprise, Congressman Cleo Fields signed on to the bill right in...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, I share about my recent advocacy trip to Washington, D.C., where I joined Healthy Birth Day , Debbie Haine Vijayvergiya—the founder of SHINE for Autumn —and fellow Count the Kicks advocates to talk about preventable stillbirth and the importance of passing the SHINE for Autumn Act. I walk you through my first day on Capitol Hill, giving insight into what the proc...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful and moving episode, we sit down with Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes , to hear her extraordinary testimony. Monica boldly and unapologetically shares her personal story—one that begins in August 1972, when her 17-year-old birth mother survived a brutal assault and faced an unplanned pregnancy. Against all odds, she chose life, abandoned Monica...

Send us Fan Mail In this  episode, we share the story behind Miles' Mission — a powerful movement born from the heartbreak of losing Miles Owen Moore, who was stillborn on October 11, 2021. His passing forever changed his family, inspiring them to take their pain and turn it into purpose. Join Jennifer and Dr. Michael Bullock as they open up about their journey through grief and the many chal...

Send us Fan Mail When Buddy Shuh stepped onto the set of The Biggest Loser in 2012, millions of viewers saw a man determined to reclaim his health. What they didn’t see was the deeper story—the heartbreak that had quietly shaped his life for years. Back in 2006, Buddy and his wife were joyfully preparing to welcome their baby girl when a routine prenatal appointment turned their world upside down....

Send us Fan Mail Today, I open up and share a story I have never spoken about publicly before—the story of my brother’s death. While it was ruled as SIDS, I’ve carried the belief in my heart that his life was taken for monetary gain. My biological father had a desire to profit from the twins—or even through my death—and that shadow has followed me for decades. In this episode, I share the details...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Luis Melara, the son of Rosie Melara , opens up about the heartbreaking loss of his sister, Ana Mary, in 2010. What began as a season of hope, joy, and anticipation quickly turned into grief and heartache. Luis shares how, as a young child, he learned to grieve openly alongside his family, discovering the power of walking through sorrow together. Through their jou...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, Lisa opens up about a story she has never shared publicly—the story of her baby brother who passed away in 1992. For decades, his life has been hidden in silence, but Lisa feels compelled to finally tell it from her own perspective. With raw honesty, she invites you into the pain, the questions, and the journey of faith that followed his death. As Lisa p...

Send us Fan Mail Just after the one-year anniversary of Rebecca Mitchell’s son Jonathan’s stillbirth, she came across a baby’s obituary in the Dallas newspaper and felt compelled to send the grieving mother a sympathy card. That simple act sparked a powerful friendship rooted in shared sorrow. Within weeks, they connected with two other mothers who had also experienced the unimaginable loss of a b...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful and emotional episode, I’m joined by Linda Znachko , founder of He Knows Your Name ministry and author of the award-winning book He Knows Your Name: How One Abandoned Baby Inspired Me to Say YES to God . What began as heartbreak over a baby abandoned in a dumpster became a calling that reshaped Linda’s life. She couldn’t bear the thought of a child leaving this wo...

Send us Fan Mail In this short but powerful episode, I’m joined by Jen Rowray of Healthy Birth Day, Inc. and Count the Kicks to talk about an important cause—stillbirth prevention. I share my plans to travel to Washington, D.C. from September 17–19 to advocate for legislative change and life-saving awareness. One of the key efforts we’re supporting is the Shine for Autumn Act , which seeks to impr...