Beyond the Loss: Real Talk about Life and Loss

This week, Aditi and Danyelle sit down with Dr. Loree Johnson to talk about the intersection of race, infertility and grief. We do not all experience the same system of care when we go through loss, and it's important to recognize when others are at the receiving end of systemic societal prejudices that impact their lives. Together we must learn to see this inequity and work to make sure everyone receives the same kindness, support and care during the hardest moments of their lives.
Dr. Loree Johnson started her career in community-based mental health services focused on adolescents and their families but later transitioned to working in the infertility and loss communities after seeing many clients present with issues related to fertility and loss. Clients of color, in particular, expressed to her a sense of isolation and confusion about their fertility journey given how their experience challenged the dominant narrative that infertility and loss did not affect communities of color at the same rate as their white counterparts.
After her first-hand experience with fertility challenges taught her the importance of self-care for managing the physical and emotional stress that come with the fertility process, coupled with the lack of representation she saw of therapists of color in the fertility space, Dr. Loree found her purpose supporting individuals and couples on their path to parenthood.

Dr. Loree has combined her 25 years of professional clinical experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with her own personal fertility journey to help others who are going through similar experiences. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California. She and her husband welcomed their rainbow in 2021 after 8 years of trying to conceive, three losses, and one TFMR.

If you're interested in contacting or learning more about Dr. Loree, you can reach out to her at @drloreejohnson on Instagram.

For immediate peer support across each stage of the journey text our national Pregnancy & Infant Loss Helpline at 1-888-910-1551 or chat on our website at www.pilsc.org

This week, Danyelle sits down with Sarah Cormier and Gillian Hatto to talk about and demystify the perception around SIDS/SUDI/SUDC. SIDS is a difficult topic with a lot of baggage behind it. How do you find a community afterwards? How do you manage the community you come from, who often don't have the tools or right words to help you? How do you begin the healing journey?

Sarah and Gillian have fought hard to raise awareness to SIDS/SUDI/SUDC, joining the SIDS Calgary Board and creating foundations in memory of their children that support other families suffering the devastating loss of a child. Sarah is now the Helpline Coordinator at PILSC and Gillian looks forward to hosting the next retreat for grieving mothers through Hazel’s Heroes.

For immediate peer support across each stage of the journey text our national Pregnancy & Infant Loss Helpline at 1-888-910-1551 or chat on our website at www.pilsc.org

This week, Aditi and Danyelle sit down to discuss the milestones of our grief journey and how our relationship to those milestones changes over time. Milestones can bring up a sense of expectations that we behave a certain way, but the truth is that each milestone is different for everyone. Instead of focusing on the expectations of how grief 'should' look, we are better served by honouring our personal truth in the moment. Aditi and Danyelle provide their insights and experiences about these emotionally charged moments.

If you're interested in finding out more about The Legacy Sponsorship Program discussed in this episode, please visit the site at: https://pilsc.org/donate-to-pilsc/legacy-sponsorship-program/

This week's episode is a re-release of our December 2020 recording where Aditi and Danyelle discuss the difficulties around grieving over the holidays. The holidays can be a difficult, confusing, stressful time, even without having to navigate through the grief journey.

We wish you a very gentle season. If you are struggling and want to connect, please reach out to us through our helpline: you can text with one of our peer mentors at 1-888-910-1551 or chat on our website www.pilsc.org.

We look forward to having you back in the New Year.

Asking someone about whether or not they are planning to have children is not the same as asking about the weather. Sometimes 'small talk' covers big topics. This week, Aditi and Danyelle sit down to talk with Roopa Khanna about her loss and experience with navigating interactions with people who don't often know the impact of what they're asking.

Roopa joined the board of PILSC to help bring a voice to those who may feel like they cannot speak about their losses. It is important for her that pregnancy and infant loss is a topic that is not in the shadows of society but rather often discussed.

If you are struggling and want to connect, please reach out to us through our helpline: you can text with one of our peer mentors at 1-888-910-1551 or chat on our website www.pilsc.org.