Share History

 

This timeline includes highlights of Share’s history from 1976 to 2016.

1976

Established an AMEND (Aiding Mothers and Fathers Experiencing Neonatal Death) chapter in Decatur, IL after meeting with St. Louis AMEND organization

1977

Began Share group at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois

Began providing education on perinatal loss and bereavement in hospitals, colleges, seminaries and the groups

1979

Began process of providing parents burial options for miscarried babies

1980

Developed a hospital packet of information for bereaved families

1981

Began working with national media

Local Share couple featured on Phil Donahue Show

Revised the checklist for caregivers to use when a baby dies

Wrote a policy on burial for miscarried babies

1982

Received Citation Award from Catholic Health Association (CHA) at Boston CHA Assembly

Held first parent training session for peer support and hospital visitation

Published Thumpy’s Story, a children’s bereavement book edited by Nancy Dodge

Published Thumpy’s Story in Spanish

Signing of Illinois proclamation declaring October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

Developed Certificate of Life for miscarried babies

1988

Published the book Bittersweet…Hellogoodbye, a resource manual for planning farewell rituals when a baby dies

1991

Changed organization name from S.H.A.R.E (Source of Help for Airing & Resolving Experience) to Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support, Inc.

Worked with national leaders in creating Rights of Parents When a Baby Dies and Rights of the Baby

Relocated the National Share Office to the campus of St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles, Missouri

Became an independent, not-for-profit organization and Cathi Lammert, RN, assumed Executive Director position

1994

Offered training sessions for Share caregivers

1996

Consulted with Paraclete Video to produce the videos “Footprints on Our Hearts” for bereaved parents, and “At a Loss for Words,” for family and friends

1998

Dedicated the Angel of Hope Monument on October 18th

Worked with national leaders to develop an advisory team for the bi-annual National Perinatal Bereavement Conference

1999

Established website with message board and chat room

Developed a catalog of perinatal bereavement books and videos

2000

Published “Rights of Parents Who Experienced an Early Loss,” compiled by Perry-Lynn Moffitt, author of A SILENT SORROW

2001

Called to testify before Illinois House of Representatives Human Services Committee on HB 382, a bill to amend the disposition of remains law to give parents the option of burying their miscarried babies of less than 20 weeks gestation

2002

Hosted the First Annual Share National Walk to Remember in St. Louis, Missouri

2003

Celebrated Share’s 25th Anniversary with the First Annual Angel Ball

Developed local Share Companions Program

2004

Expanded the Share Walk to Remember to 15 cities

2005

Changed logo wording to use Share, not SHARE and added a tagline, “touching lives… healing hearts… giving hope”

Share’s logo has made several changes throughout the years!

 

Received large grant from the Gidwitz Foundation to educate chaplains nationwide on the needs of bereaved parents

2006

Changed the name of Share Walk to Share Walk for Remembrance and Hope

2007

Produced two videos with DIA Learning and St. Louis Children’s Hospital; “Grieving in the NICU; Mending Broken Hearts When a Baby Dies” and “Support Families When a Baby Dies”

Celebrated 30th Share Anniversary at Voices of Hope Retreat at the St. Louis Airport Crowne Plaza

2008

Updated and published the 6th Edition of Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Share Program

Spanish translations of Share’s informational pamphlets are completed by volunteers

Published Somewhere Out There, a journal for children experiencing grief after the death of a baby, using funds awarded from the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals Care Organization

Published two new booklets for bereaved families: “Grieving, Healing and Finding Hope After the Death of Your Baby” and “Grieving, Healing and Finding Hope After an Early Pregnancy Loss”

Donated books to grieving children in St. Louis metro area hospitals using funds awarded from the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals Care Organization

The bi-monthly Sharing newsletter transitioned into an online e-magazine format

2010

Published We Hold You in Our Hearts, a memory book for bereaved parents

Updated and published the 3rd Edition of Bittersweet…Hellogoodbye

Published Heart Art, a children’s art remembrance book

2013

Debbie Cochran, BSN, MA, is hired by Share  board of directors

Cathi Lammert, RN, retires and moves into Education Coordinator role

Added new features to the national Share Walk for Remembrance and Hope:  Creation Station activity center for bereaved children and Garden of Hope memorial signs

Hired coordinator to expand the Share Companion Program into St. Louis metropolitan area hospitals

Produced video of Share parents, grandparents and board members promoting the Share organization

Joined the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA)

Attended the MHA conference in Lake of the Ozarks as an exhibitor and presenter

2014

Share receives  grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health and began a three-year program called Awareness and Access to Perinatal Bereavement Care (AAPBC), enabling Share to train professionals who care for bereaved families around the state of Missouri free of charge

Produced videos of Sharing and Caring training workshops

Created new and updated Share website

Updated Share logo

2016

Updated and translated informational brochures into Spanish

Hosted first Grandparent’s Day event for bereaved grandparents

Here’s to 40 more years!