At the SUDC Foundation, we honor the unique journey of families who experience pregnancy after the loss of a child. 🤱 While the story of a rainbow baby symbolizes hope and new beginnings for many, not all families may consider a rainbow child as part of their healing journey. 🌈 Regardless, the arrival of a rainbow baby does not diminish the grief of losing a child. Just as a rainbow doesn’t erase the storm, the promise of healing remains, even as the clouds of grief may still linger. ⛈
⭐ The SUDC Foundation is here to support you with our trauma-informed services and resources, providing families the guidance they need through this emotional journey. All services are offered at no cost to the families we serve.
➡ To learn more, please visit: sudc.org.
Posting better late than never
It's game day! ⚾️ Don't forget to watch at 1:05 p.m. MST as the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Oakland Athletics while sporting a patch on their uniforms in honor of #SUDCAwareness Month.
And watch for the special moment when SUDC Mom Melissa Monroe, throws out the first pitch in honor of her daughter Alice (2011-2013) and all the children gone too soon. 💙💛
Watch the game on SportsNet LA or nationally on the MLB Network.
The Peer Connection Program offers dads a way to connect with another father who has experienced loss. Whether through sharing or simply listening, this connection provides validation, reassurance, and practical guidance from someone who understands.
Grief can feel different for dads. Some process it quietly, while others want to talk—but many struggle to find a space where they feel understood. This program offers the opportunity to connect in a way that feels right for you.
💬 A short training will help you feel prepared.
✅ We confirm readiness & availability before making a match.
🤝 Join a network of dads who support each other in ways that fit their needs.
If you're in a place where you feel ready to support another dad through grief, we welcome you to join.
🔗 Sign up today: https://sudc.org/peer-connections-program/
📩 Questions? Contact support@sudc.org
The SUDC Foundation team is taking part in the Strides for SUDC Awareness Challenge!
As team SUDC Striders for Hope https://runsignup.com/sudcstridersforhope, we will walk, run, and bike throughout March to collectively cover 1,000 miles, raise $1,000, and further increase awareness for SUDC.
⭐ We want YOU to join us and to be a part of this important challenge too! ⭐
Simply head to the event registration page and sign up: Strides for SUDC Awareness Challenge https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Roseland/StrideforSUDCAwareness
Once registered, set up your personal fundraising page to help raise awareness and funds for SUDC. Walk, run, or bike towards your own goal, and invite others to participate with you! Share your progress on your fundraising page and social media networks, and don’t forget to tag the SUDC Foundation!
Let’s take strides together for SUDC Awareness Month to achieve our ultimate goal of 25,000 miles and raise $50,000 for the SUDC Foundation!
State Representative James Arciero, in partnership with the SUDC Foundation and Junie’s Place, led the charge to support Massachusetts families affected by child loss. Today, Representative Arciero hosted SUDC Awareness Day and introduced HD. 3789, a vital bill that would provide 10 days of bereavement leave—a brief yet essential window of time—for families grieving the loss of a child.
With March now officially recognized as SUDC Awareness Month in Massachusetts, we honor the 40 children gone too soon and the 62 Massachusetts family members forever impacted by Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC). By raising awareness and advocating for policies like HD. 3789, we can ensure that families receive the dignity, time, and support they need to grieve and heal. Recognizing that bereavement leave is not just about policy—it is about compassion and acknowledging the lifelong impact of losing a child.
We are grateful to Representative Arciero for his leadership in recognizing the importance of bereavement support and advocating for families who have experienced the unimaginable loss of their child.
📖 Read HD. 3789 and the full press release here: https://sudc.org/legislation-and-policy/
📢 Help spread awareness—share this post and visit SUDC.org & JuniesPlace.org to learn more.
Photo courtesy of the Office of Representative James Arciero
Today is Random Act of Kindness Day.
Please visit our website and download our kindness card template. Here’s how you can make a meaningful impact:
✨ Add your child’s name to honor.
✨ Challenge yourself to pass out one kindness card per week as you go about your day.
Every small act of kindness helps raise SUDC awareness.
👉 Download your template today and join the challenge! https://sudc.org/literature-brochures/
The SUDC Foundation recognizes the profound impact that the sudden death of a child can have not only on families but also on the professionals involved in the case. To support medical professionals in navigating this difficult terrain, the SUDC Foundation offers a wealth of resources at sudc.org.
These resources include:
- Downloadable fact sheets for quick reference on Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC)
- Newsletters that provide ongoing updates and research findings
- Registration for monthly e-news to stay informed about developments in the field
- Access to social media platforms offering current and accurate information.
Visit the site today for easy access to these vital tools and additional support.
Join us in supporting the SUDC Foundation as we work toward our $75,000 goal, with every donation today tripled thanks to the Jackson Walsh and Moss Pieratt Foundations.
Since 2021, the McDowall family has honored Macy through an Ice Hockey Jamboree, raising awareness for SUDC and celebrating her memory. 💙 As they shared:
“The rink became a safe space for us, offering community, comfort, and a platform to share Macy’s story while raising awareness for SUDC and the families it forever changes.”
💡 Donate now and triple your impact! Every gift makes a difference in supporting families and advancing research. 👉 https://sudc.org/donate
Thank you for your support—together, we can make an incredible impact! 💙
December 2-8 is National Grief Awareness Week—a time for all of us in the SUDC community to reflect, connect, and honor our shared experiences. This week reminds us of the strength we find in each other and the importance of openly acknowledging grief.
At the SUDC Foundation, we are here to walk alongside you, providing a compassionate space and unwavering support at no cost. Together, we can continue to honor our children and bring hope to other families navigating this journey.
Let’s make this week a beacon of compassion, understanding, and giving. 💙
Today marks our 2nd Annual "Give to the Max" campaign for the SUDC Foundation!
Give to the Max is a statewide initiative that brings together communities across Minnesota to support thousands of nonprofits and schools. Your donation today will have an immediate impact, helping us continue our vital work in supporting families like yours and others around the world.
If your employer offers a matching gift program, you can double or even triple your donation! Simply let us know at donations@sudc.org, and we’ll confirm the match for your employer.
Please visit GiveMN.org, search for the SUDC Foundation, and make your donation today!
Thank you for your continued generosity and support!
Today is Children’s Grief Awareness Day—a time to honor the unique journey of grieving children. At the SUDC Foundation, we understand the special needs of siblings coping with the sudden loss of a brother or sister.
🦋 Healing Tip: For siblings, creating space to honor their loved ones can foster both healing and connection. Simple acts like lighting a candle, making a memory box, or sharing stories can help siblings feel supported and connected in their grief. Encouraging unique ways to honor their loved one can nurture resilience and validate their grief.
Through our Teen Ambassador Program, we empower siblings to find their voice, build community, and inspire hope in their own journeys and beyond. 🦋 https://sudc.org/ambassador-program/
🦋 Learn more about navigating sibling loss with these resources: https://sudc.org/for-siblings/
These posts are about maintaining mental health, not achieving it. If you're deeply depressed or have other serious things going on, you should talk to a professional.
Everybody's different, and each approach helps everyone differently. You might appreciate this perspective more:
What have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing
You're going back to nothing
What have you lost? Nothing!
Always look on the bright side of life
This post is about maintenance mode. Suicidal ideation is emergency mode, and these steps would not be appropriate. If you or anyone else reading this are having suicidal ideation, please talk to someone qualified. In the US, you can dial 9-8-8.
Sorry, missed the notification on this, but here's a virtual hug for you: 🫂
Hopefully you got some in-person hugs as well
Note that like the 5 Stages of Grief that you've probably head of, this is an oversimplistic model. The reality involves a lot of bouncing between each of these at various times to various degrees. This book explains the process from the perspective of neuroscience and talks about a better model:
The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss
And this book talks about it more from a social perspective:
I found my three year old unresponsive during a nap and knew he was dead, but had to try my best to comfort my wife as she broke down screaming while trying to resuscitate him. It's still hard to think about.
If this happens to someone you know, please let them know about SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood). It's like SIDS but for children older than 1 year. The SUDC Foundation has a website at https://sudc.org/ and provides community for parents, grandparents and siblings that have gone through it. In my case, having community might've been lifesaving.
Sorry to come across like a PSA, but March will be SUDC Awareness Month, and this post made me think of it. I'll be posting about it over in !sudc@midwest.social. It's not exactly an upbeat Lemmy community, but I hope that it can help anybody else going through the same thing find the community they need.