October has always carried deep meaning for me. Declared in 1988 by bereaved father and President Ronald Reagan as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, it is also the month my own son Stephen died in 2000. In those days, resources were limited, conversations about pregnancy and infant loss were rare, and families like mine were often left to navigate profound grief in silence.

At that time, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep had not yet been conceived. Looking back now, I’m deeply moved by how far we have come in supporting families who experience the unimaginable. Today, NILMDTS offers something I wish had been available when I said goodbye to my son: the gift of remembrance photography, beautiful, compassionate images that preserve memories of a baby’s life -no matter how small.

For the families I’ve served over the years in my work providing bereavement support in faith communities and hospitals, these photographs are often treasured beyond words. They become a way to proudly share their children and hold onto precious pieces of love that never fades. This organization has helped transform the experience of a baby's death, giving families a normal way to remember and honor the life of the ones who didn’t get to stay.

Out of my own loss grew a passion to resource and support this community as well. That’s why I created KristenRiecke.com, where families can find tools, stories, and connections to help them feel less alone. My husband and I also co-authored No Matter How Small, a book filled with practical advice, personal stories, and reminders of hope for parents walking through pregnancy and infant loss. Later, we compiled Love Persevering, a collection of fictional stories inspired by real experiences of love and loss -written to help families see themselves and their babies in the pages, knowing that each of their stories matter.

This October, I honor my son, Stephen Daniel, and I honor every child who has left this world too soon. I honor the parents who carry both love and grief sacredly intertwined. And I am deeply grateful for organizations like Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and the countless others who are helping us speak our babies’ names, share their stories, and hold space for hope and healing.

Your baby matters, your story matters, no matter how small they were, they left a lifetime for us to love them!

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a dedicated 501(c)(3) non-profit, offers families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss with complimentary remembrance portraits, capturing precious moments with their babies. Your generous donation can help us extend this heartfelt service to more families in need. Please consider supporting us here.