Confessions of a Grieving Mother

Episódios

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  𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙘𝙤 06.08.2026 40min

  Type of Loss: Neonatal LossMore about this story: In this episode, we talk with Tabbitha as she shares the story of her son, Rosco Mack, and the unimaginable loss that forever changed her family's life.After a healthy pregnancy and normal delivery, Rosco was born on June 28, 2019. Just moments after his birth, complications from meconium aspiration led to a heartbreaking fight for his life. Despite the tireless efforts of the medical team, Rosco died just one hour after he was born.Tabbitha courageously reflects on those first devastating days, the loneliness that followed, and how the well-intentioned words of others often couldn't reach the depth of her grief. It wasn't until she connected with another bereaved parent and found the support of Emma's Footprints that she began to realize she didn't have to carry her loss alone.
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  𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗟𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝙇𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞 30.07.2026 31min

  Type of loss: Second trimester lossMore about Jenna's Story: In this episode, we talk with Jenna Lotti as she shares the story of pregnancy loss and the profound grief that followed.In July 2025, at approximately 16 weeks pregnant, Jenna experienced light spotting and reached out to her doctor, hoping for reassurance. Instead, an ultrasound revealed the heartbreaking news that her baby's heart had stopped beating, and that the loss had likely occurred about a week earlier. The following day, Jenna underwent a D&E, beginning a journey through grief that no parent ever expects to face.
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  𝗞𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗹𝘆𝗻𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗸𝗶: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙂𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙇𝙮𝙣𝙣 23.07.2026 47min

  Type of loss: stillbirthMore about this story: In this episode, we talk with Kaitlynn Tempalski as she shares the story of her daughter Gianna Lynn. At 19 weeks pregnant, Kaitlynn began to wonder why she hadn't felt her baby move. Hoping for reassurance, she looked ahead to her upcoming anatomy scan, never imagining what was to come. Within moments of the ultrasound beginning, she and her husband were met with the words no parent is ever prepared to hear: "I'm sorry... there's no heartbeat."Kaitlynn opens up about the shock of receiving the diagnosis, the difficult experience of navigating a loss without an on-site physician, and the heartbreaking hours that followed as she prepared to deliver her daughter.
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  𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀:𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙖 16.07.2026 1h 17min

  Type of loss: Infant lossMore about this story: In this episode, we talk with Olivia Hodge about the story of her daughter, Camila.Olivia's journey into motherhood began with a traumatic pregnancy after experiencing PPROM at 23.5 weeks. Following weeks of hospitalization and strict bed rest, she and her husband, Armondo, welcomed Camila at 34 weeks. After spending 22 days in the NICU, Camila came home and thrived.Olivia shares what it was like to care for Camila while Armondo was deployed, the joy of watching her daughter grow, and the memories they built together as a family.In September 2025, everything changed. After a sudden medical emergency at daycare, Camila was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support. Olivia and Armondo were faced with the devastating reality that Camila had no signs of brain activity and said goodbye to their daughter while holding her in their arms.More about Emma's Footprints:www.EmmasFootprints.com
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  𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗶: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝘼𝙗𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙡 09.07.2026 1h 12min

  Type of loss: Life-limiting diagnosis, infant loss, twin lossMore 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 and a brain MRI, Emily and her family received the devastating news that Abigail’s condition was not sustainable. Surrounded by love and held tightly in the arms of her family, Abigail passed away just six days after birth.In this heartfelt conversation, Emily reflects on navigating the joy and complexity of welcoming twins while simultaneously facing unimaginable grief. She shares what it was like to parent both daughters, to say goodbye to Abigail, and to continue honoring her life while raising her sister.
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  𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗮 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗷𝗲: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙊𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙖 02.07.2026 37min

  Type of loss: StillbirthMore 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 5 days. As a first-time mom with an anterior placenta, Kira struggled with questions and uncertainties that many grieving parents know all too well.
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  𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗻𝗻-𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙡𝙚, 𝙍𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙣, 𝙃𝙖𝙯𝙚𝙡, 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙜𝙚 25.06.2026 1h 1min

  Type of loss: Early-term losses, Ectopic Pregnancy, Chemical Pregnancy, Blighted OvumMore 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 infertility at age 30, beginning a journey where grief arrived long before any loss—grief over the inability to conceive freely, over the uncertainty of waiting, and over watching others experience pregnancies that felt out of reach. After multiple rounds of treatment, they finally conceived, only to experience an ectopic pregnancy and the devastating loss of their baby, Thistle, in a medical emergency that turned joy into trauma in an instant.What followed was a long and complicated path through IVF, embryo transfers, and repeated heartbreak. Heather shares the story of their embryos, their “double rainbow” boys born after loss, and the fragile hope that came with each attempt to grow their family. Along the way, she experienced multiple miscarriages—including the losses of Rowan, Hazel, Willow, and Sage—each one carrying its own weight of grief, questions, and longing.Through it all, Heather speaks honestly about the emotional toll of repeated loss, the strain on her body and spirit, and the moments where she questioned whether she would ever be able to bring a baby safely into her arms again.
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  𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 18.06.2026 15min

  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 ongoing relationship fathers continue to have with their children who are no longer here.
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  𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀 11.06.2026 20min

  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 person you were before, and what it means to carry both who you were and who you are becoming.This conversation holds space for anyone who has ever wondered, “Who am I now?” after loss and reminds us that identity is not erased by grief, but deeply transformed by it.
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  𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗲: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨 04.06.2026 35min

  Type of Loss: Early-term lossMore 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 heartbreaking realization that there seemed to be no explanation for why she and her husband could not grow their family. After years of trying, multiple fertility treatments, and being told they would likely never become pregnant again, Laura and her husband began praying about adoption and what the future might hold.Then, in the most unexpected way, they received the news they had been hoping for—a positive pregnancy test. As excitement slowly began to replace fear, Laura and her family allowed themselves to dream again. But just weeks later, those dreams were shattered when they learned their baby's heart had stopped beating.
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  𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗘𝗺𝗺𝗮! 28.05.2026 39min

  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 through the years. This heartfelt episode offers a deeply personal glimpse into the way remembrance lives on across generations and how birthdays can hold both joy and sorrow after loss.Whether you are honoring your own baby's birthday in heaven or simply looking for connection and understanding, we hope this conversation reminds you that your child will always be remembered.
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  𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 07.05.2026 16min

  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 arms.Each letter is a powerful reminder that motherhood does not end with loss. This episode honors the enduring bond between mother and baby, the milestones imagined, the memories treasured, and the love that continues, especially on Mother’s Day.
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  𝗟𝘂𝗰𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘆: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙀𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚 30.04.2026 29min

  Type of loss: TFMR, Life-limiting diagnosisMore 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 discovered. What followed was a birth filled with intention, tenderness, and love. Through hypnobirthing, Lucy created a peaceful and sacred space to welcome Ellie into the world, honoring her life in the most beautiful way she could.Out of that loss, Lucy found purpose.Drawing on her background in mental health nursing and her lived experience, she created Ellie’s Gift—the world’s first hypnobirthing app designed specifically to support families preparing to birth a baby who has died. What began as a way to honor Ellie’s life has grown into a global resource, now used across the UK within NHS trusts and in over 37 countries—offering comfort, guidance, and compassion to grieving families, completely free of charge.Lucy also shares about Ellie’s Rainbow, a platform offering support for families navigating pregnancy after loss, and her mindfulness-based grief book that is helping individuals around the world process loss with gentleness and intention.This conversation is a powerful testament to the ways grief and love can coexist—and how one mother’s devotion to her daughter is changing the way loss is held and supported for others.Resources mentioned in this episode: https://www.ellies.giftEllie's Gift: A Mindful Approach to Grief and Baby Loss: 8 Week Self-Help Guide 
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  𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝘃𝗶: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙨 23.04.2026 1h 1min

  Type of loss: StillbirthMore 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"
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  𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗿: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙚𝙡𝙛-𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 16.04.2026 32min

  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.
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  𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘆 09.04.2026 10min

  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.
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  𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲: 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙈𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 02.04.2026 21min

  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.
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  𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙀𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙬 & 𝙀𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚 26.03.2026 1h 15min

  Type of loss: Early term loss, life-limiting diagnosis, multiple lossesMore 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.
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  𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗰: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙚 19.03.2026 1h 31min

  Type of loss: Life limiting diagnosis, Infant lossMore 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.
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  𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗼: 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙂𝙚𝙢𝙢𝙖 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 12.03.2026 44min

  Type of loss: Stillbirth, Delayed twin interval birthMore 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.