In this episode, Tracy and Julie share everything you need to know about our upcoming Emma’s Footprints Memorial Walks. These special gatherings are a time to say your baby’s name out loud, walk beside others who truly understand, and honor where you are in your grief journey.

Whether this will be your very first walk or it has become a yearly tradition, we invite you to join us in remembrance, healing, and connection.

Save the dates:

🧡 Pittsburgh, PA – September 13 at Robert Morris University Island Sports Center

🩷 Erie, PA – September 21 at Penn State Behrend

💙 Melbourne, FL – November 15 at Wickham Park

Your baby’s life matters, and we are here to walk beside you.

Type of loss: Incompetent Cervix, Stillbirth

More about Michaela’s story: In this episode, Tracy and Julie talk with Michaela about the loss of her son, Jackson James. Late in her pregnancy, Michaela received a diagnosis of incompetent cervix (IC), but only after her high-risk specialist caught it during an ultrasound that was performed just a few days too late for an emergency cerclage, and a few days too early for Jackson to be saved in the NICU.

Michaela shares the shock of learning about IC so late in her pregnancy and the devastation of realizing how narrow the window was to save her baby boy. She opens up about the silence surrounding IC losses, the emotional toll of feeling overlooked by the healthcare system, and the grief journey she has walked since saying goodbye to Jackson.

In Jackson’s memory, Michaela is passionate about raising awareness for incompetent cervix losses, advocating for earlier detection and proactive care so other families don’t experience the same heartache.

More about Emma's Footprints:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EmmasFootprints.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: @EmmasFootprintsInstagram: @EmmasFootprints

Type of loss: SIDS, Infant Loss

More about Rebecca’s story: In this episode, Tracy and Julie talk with Rebecca Toohey about the life and sudden passing of her son, Bodie. Just two days into starting childcare, Bodie tragically passed away due to unsafe sleep practices and lack of supervision. He was just shy of 3 months old.

Rebecca shares the devastating moment she learned of Bodie’s passing and the waves of grief that followed. She opens up about the trauma of losing him in a space meant to be safe, the guilt and anger that surfaced in the early days, and how their family is navigating life without their baby boy.

In Bodie’s memory, Rebecca and her loved ones created Bodie's Buddies , a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the silence around baby loss and spreading awareness about safe sleep practices. She also reflects on the life-changing support she received from Emma’s Footprints early in her grief, and the continued healing her husband has found through Sad Dads Club.

More about Emma's Footprints:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EmmasFootprints.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook: @EmmasFootprints
• Instagram: @EmmasFootprints