Erin’s story: In March of 2015, I delivered my twin boys, Mason and Marshall, at 20 weeks gestation. When I was unable to take them home from the hospital, my life was forever changed. I walked into my empty nursery and wasn’t sure how I could survive this new normal. The following month, I joined an Empty Arms support group and found a group of women (and some men too) who made me realize that I wasn’t alone on this journey. It’s an ever-evolving cycle of offering a place to grieve and heal all while honoring our children.

After suffering a second trimester loss, and 2 first trimester miscarriages, I was lucky enough to welcome my rainbow babies. My husband Scott and I adopted our son Maddox at birth, and we then adopted the embryos that gave us our two daughters Madilyn and Mina. Experiencing pregnancy after loss brought a new perspective to my participation in the group.

Being a part of Empty Arms, volunteering for the annual Remembrance Walk, sharing my story and supporting others in the midst of grief has helped me fill the void left by the loss of my boys. I love that I can share my story to provide others with comfort and hope. Several months after the loss of my boys, I was invited to join the Empty Arms Board of Directors. I am not only surviving, but I am happy again and I love that my boys’ very short lives have such a strong presence in my family.

Jenna’s story: As the current Secretary on the Empty Arms Board of Directors, I’ve focused much of my work on increasing our reach and visibility with my marketing background.

I joined the Board several years after the loss of my son, Tripp, in 2015. Tripp blessed this world for ten days before passing away in the NICU. My husband Todd and I have spent the last eight years celebrating Tripp’s ten days every February by fundraising and supporting various local groups in his memory. I welcomed my rainbow baby, Iris, in 2019 and found a new passion in supporting Empty Arms mothers after they’ve experienced loss.

Jaime’s story: I have been serving on the Empty Arms Board of Directors since 2008. As a medical sonographer, I’m often in the hospital holding families’ hands when they receive the devastating news of a birth defect, or worse, fetal death. I play an active role in making sure families know they are not alone in the devastating journey of giving birth and not bringing your baby home.

I introduce parents who’ve lost a child to Empty Arms and try to get them started on the difficult grief journey with the group’s support. I’m also involved in casting babies’ hands and feet for families to have as a keepsake.

My husband Jason and I experienced a loss with our first baby at 12 weeks. That loss was followed by two successful pregnancies before we lost our daughter, Jenovieve, in 2007 at 21 weeks. We have suffered three losses and experienced the joy of three healthy children.

We love to incorporate our family with the other Empty Arms families at our many group activities. The butterfly release and planting is our family’s favorite gathering. It brings beautiful color to the butterfly garden in Mount Hope Cemetery. This memorial is the starting point for the Remembrance Walk. I am passionate about helping families know they are not alone in this journey and try to provide hope to them, even when it seems like an impossible task.

Melanie’s story: In October of 2008, I held two beautiful twins in my arms for the first and very last time. Alexis and Colby were born at 22 weeks after 7 years of infertility treatment. One month after our loss, I attended my first meeting and have since been forever grateful for the friendships, support, understanding and love that this group has shown me.

Being a part of Empty Arms has allowed me to share my loss and fertility story and support others who are grieving. I feel honored to be a part of such a strong group of women who are not only surviving after such terrible loss, but are also helping and supporting others in their time of grief. You are not alone.

Aimee’s story: After being pretty sure that no one could possibly survive being so sad, I found an article about another mom who had suffered a similar loss and realized that there was deep comfort in finding and being among others who understood.

When I couldn’t find a local group, I helped start one. I co-founded Empty Arms in 2008, following the stillbirth of my third daughter, Sophia Anne. Being part of Empty Arms following Sophie’s birth was pivotal in changing my outlook on life, pursuing joy and doing the hard work of grief and growth.

Each year on Sophie’s birthday, my family and I celebrate her life with random acts of kindness to strangers. Since the beginning of Empty Arms, I’ve been involved both on and off the Board in multiple capacities. Our work with the Remembrance Walk, organizing education for the medical community, and continuing to prove that life will always offer an opportunity for joy has helped to change the support systems for loss in the greater Bangor area.

When not working with loss families, I can be found juggling family responsibilities, a busy homeschool schedule, and multiple sports teams, along with other volunteer and community work. I have been a Leader with La Leche League of Maine and New Hampshire for the last 15 years. I’m happy married to my husband of 25 years and live in Orono with my four living children, my dog Haley and cat Granite.

Laurie’s story: I have been involved with Empty Arms since 2010 when I returned to my home state of Maine. My interest in Empty Arms comes from both personal and professional experiences. Personally, I experienced multiple early miscarriages, one of which was an ectopic pregnancy. During that time, I also went through three IVF cycles. Having had early losses, I especially appreciate the ‘invisibility’ of these kinds of experiences and how that can compound the grief we experience.

Professionally, I have been involved in providing parent support groups in a Level III NICU and have a special interest in using arts to help parents memorialize and honor their lost dream, cope with grief and support hope. I have found that volunteering for Empty Arms has helped me make meaning of my own story and that Empty Arms can help parents new to loss understand that their baby will always be a part of them. Healing does not mean forgetting – you are not alone.

Taylor’s story: After experiencing a 6-week loss in 2020 as well as the loss of my 17-week gestation baby boy Cooper in 2021, I joined the Empty Arms Board of Directors as Donations Chair in 2022.

My passion to support and love on fellow loss parents is one of the many driving forces behind my involvement with Empty Arms. I often say that the greatest healing that continues to happen in my heart is in large part due to the fact that each time I walk alongside another loss family, the legacy of the precious ones I’ve lost lives on with beautiful purpose.

My love for the loss community runs deep, as does my love for fundraising and ensuring every single need loss parents have is met. Compassion birthed from understanding another’s grief is the most beautiful gift I could pass down along my journey of grief. I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of Empty Arms.

Deb Dilworth is currently a board member and focuses on helping individuals through the loss of a child after birth. Deb recently joined the group after moving to Bangor in 2022. Deb and her husband lost their second child, Ryan, 5 weeks after delivery in 1983. He was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 at birth.  Deb and her husband have worked with couples who have lost a child individually. Deb has also spoken to various medical student classes about losing a child and how it forever changes the dynamics of the family. Deb is excited to partner with Empty Arms and supporting mothers through their loss. Deb and her husband have 3 adult living children, Kristin, Erin and Caleb.