Butterfly Kisses Alliance changes the way families are supported after the loss of a child
Katherine oversees editorial operations across all six brands. Before joining The Meridan Group, she spent 14 years at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she led the metro desk through its digital transformation. She holds a Master's in Journalism from Northwestern's Medill School.
More from Katherine →
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Aging Untold) — Families navigating the tragic and unexpected loss of a baby are receiving an additional support system from the Butterfly Kisses Alliance.A group of nurses in St. Louis founded the nonprofit in 2023 to offer support and resources to families and people impacted by the death of a baby, whether before, during or shortly after birth.Kayla Hollingshead, Jennifer Koskela, Janie Mullinnax and Jeannette Hickey work together as labor and delivery nurses at Progress West Hospital. For each of them, the emotional toll of caring for mothers who had suffered a loss prompted them to create a way to help.“We grieve with these families because we are there with them through the worst day of their life,” Hollingshead said. “We’re humans as well, we have emotions, and we got into nursing because we care and we love hard.”Hollingshead said with most diagnoses, there is a standard of care within the medical profession, meaning there is a level of skill, knowledge and care