Hope After Loss, formerly the Hygeia Foundation, was founded in 1995 by Dr. Michael R. Berman to offer online support to families grieving pregnancy or infant loss, becoming the first physician‑led network of its kind and connecting more than 24,000 individuals. What began as a virtual community grew in 2007 with our first in‑person, peer‑led support group in New Haven, guided by our Parent Advisory Board. As our volunteer‑driven model expanded, we added trained facilitators, one‑on‑one support, a lending library, burial gowns and blankets, and later our Burial Assistance and Professional Education programs. Today, a small staff and dedicated volunteers carry this mission forward, ensuring no family has to navigate the loss of a pregnancy or infant alone.
Supporting those who experience pregnancy and or infant loss by providing a community of connections, comfort, and compassion.
Guided by our values of compassion, acceptance, empathy, respect, and inclusion; we reach out our hands to all those who grieve the loss of a baby and walk out of the darkness together.
Losing a much‑wanted baby can feel like being plunged into darkness, and finding your way forward is never simple. But when others reach out with understanding and compassion, the path becomes a little easier to navigate. By honoring and remembering our babies together, we support one another through grief and slowly rediscover moments of light, connection, and hope.
Free online and in-person support groups connecting bereaved parents after pregnancy and/or infant loss, led by trained facilitators who are bereaved parents themselves.
Paying for a burial or cremation is something most expectant parents do not plan for. We provide financial assistance for burial or cremation to low-income Connecticut parents after pregnancy or infant loss.
Through our educational programming, we work to close the communication gap between the bereaved and the professionals who care for them. Together, we’re building more compassionate, informed care for grieving families.
Jennifer has been a dedicated leader within Hope After Loss for many years, as a former Vice-Chair and member of the board of directors, her deep personal connection to the mission guides her commitment to strengthening the organization and ensuring every family finds compassion, community, and support.
Olivia is a mother of three living children and one baby in heaven, Lily. After Lily was born still in 2023, Olivia found Hope After Loss and felt the comfort of community during one of life’s most difficult journeys. Drawn by her own experience, she joined the Hope After Loss team later that year with a deep commitment to ensuring that no one who faces pregnancy or infant loss ever has to walk that road alone.
Katie Christenson – President, Amisha Rai – Vice President, Kayla Kudla – Secretary, Gerry Baird – Treasurer
Krystal Aimi, Stephanie Byrd, Claudia Esposito, Emily Lamy, Nicola Lobb, Kim Nelly
A joyful, community‑filled event that brings people together for an evening of celebration and remembrance while honoring the compassionate care professionals who support families through loss.
This event brings our loss community together for a hopeful day of connection, offering a 5K run, a Remembrance Ceremony & Walk, and a caring space filled with crafts, food trucks, raffles, and vendors dedicated to supporting families
Our Self‑Care & Connections events offer welcoming, uplifting opportunities for anyone to gather, create, and enjoy a few hours of relaxation, community, and meaningful connection..
Our Resource Directory offers a curated list of trusted community partners who support every phase of your grief journey. Here, you’ll find organizations and providers who can offer emotional support, professional care, wellness services, financial assistance, and meaningful ways to honor your baby’s memory. We hope these resources bring comfort, guidance, and connection wherever you are in your healing.
Your gift helps ensure that Hope After Loss can continue providing compassionate support, financial assistance through our Burial and Cremation Fund, and perinatal bereavement training to the community. Every contribution, no matter the size, strengthens our programs and brings hope to families across Connecticut and beyond.
Put Stock in Something That Matters. Donating appreciated stock is one of the most tax‑advantaged ways to give, allowing you to avoid capital gains tax while deducting the full value of your gift. Your contribution goes even further because Hope After Loss receives the total value of the stock, and the process is now fast, safe, and free.
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is an easy, tax‑efficient way to support Hope After Loss. If you have a DAF through organizations like Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, or a community foundation, you can recommend a grant directly to Hope After Loss at any time. Simply click on the link below to get started.
Many employers offer matching gift programs that can double or even triple your impact. Check your company’s intranet or HR department to see if they participate, submitting a match is usually quick and simple, and it helps your generosity go even further in supporting our community.
Planned giving allows you to create a lasting legacy by supporting Hope After Loss through a gift in your will, trust, or beneficiary designation. Your future gift ensures compassionate support, resources, and connection remain available to grieving families for years to come.
Volunteering your time is a powerful way to support our community and make a hands‑on impact. Whether helping at events, lending your skills, or simply showing up for others as a facilitator, your time and presence make a meaningful difference.