Working in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and assisting families through our Perinatal Hospice Program, we often encountered families grappling with concerns about affording their child’s burial expenses.

I vividly recall sitting with a grieving family shortly after their newborn had passed away, navigating the daunting process with the mortuary as they confronted various options and associated costs. The mother, overwhelmed with grief, tearfully expressed her inability to bear the financial burden. We explored alternatives to burial, but it was clear that laying her baby to rest in any other way was not what she desired.

In that moment, it became apparent of the need for change. No family should face such heart-wrenching decisions based on financial constraints. The stress of financial worries should not overshadow the precious time families have with their child or the memories they should be creating.

This was not an isolated incident. As we began to speak out, others shared similar experiences—whether through patient interactions or their own personal struggles with mortuary expenses.