FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 18, 2022
Lost & Found Grief Center
Mike Woody, Executive Director
mwoody@lostandfoundozarks.com
417-865-9998
On Angels’ Wings
Michelle Cramer, Executive Director
michelle.cramer@dev-on-angels-wings-photos.pantheonsite.io
417-834-3670
Springfield, Missouri: Lost & Found Grief Center and On Angels’ Wings — two Springfield, Missouri non-profits focused on assisting grieving families — are working together to host a Wave of Light ceremony in observation of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on October 15, 2022.
“An average of one in four families have endured a miscarriage, and one in 160 pregnancies tragically end in stillbirth,” explains Michelle Cramer, executive director of On Angels’ Wings. “This doesn’t include infants lost to life limiting medical conditions like Trisomy, Congenital Heart Defects, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy and many, many more. That’s why the entire month of October is designated to honor these heart crushing losses families endure, why October 15th is designated Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, and why we count it a privilege to work with Lost & Found to provide a dedicated event for families to honor these children.”
Wave of Light is an international event. Communities around the globe gather and light candles at 7 p.m. local time in honor of their infant children who have died, creating a “wave of light” across time zones. The Springfield Wave of Light event is provided at no cost to the community, due to generous funding from Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks. Attendees have the opportunity for their child’s name to be read at the event when they register, at not cost, by October 7 at https://bit.ly/OzarksWOL22 or utilizing the QR code. Registration is not required to attend, unless attendees would like their child’s name read aloud.
“At Lost & Found Grief Center we understand the importance of taking time to remember our loved ones who have died,” says Mike Woody, executive director of Lost & Found. “Wave of Light is a unique opportunity for families who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss to gather and remember their loved one together as a community. We look forward to participating in this beautiful evening honoring the lives of those we lost too soon.”
The Wave of Light event will be held at Kellogg Field on Drury Campus (attendees can park in the lots A, 4 and 7 on Summit Avenue). The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a live musical performance from Joe Dillstrom (joedillstrom.com), followed by stories from a few families who have endured such loss, with the candle lighting to commence right at 7 p.m. Following the candle lighting, names will be read. The event is expected to close at 8 p.m.
Additionally, attendees are encouraged to come early and stroll through Pool Art Center on Drury’s campus to view “Celebrating Life & Encouraging Hope,” a stories exhibition by On Angels’ Wings and presented by Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks. Special hours for the art center on October 15 will be 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in anticipation of Wave of Light.
Lost & Found Grief Center is a Missouri non-profit organization that strives to improve lives in our community by providing help, hope, and healing through professional grief support services. Lost & Found works with the bereaved to provide education and support as they travel their journey of grief to find a new normal facing life without their deceased loved one. lostandfoundozarks.com
On Angels’ Wings is a Missouri non-profit organization that seeks to improve the mental health and wellness of families with medically fragile children (regardless of race, ethnicity, class status or orientation) through therapeutic photography and grief recovery services, free of charge. dev-on-angels-wings-photos.pantheonsite.io
Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks is a Missouri non-profit organization that awards grants to organizations which are involved in end-of-life services and education. The Foundation supports hospice, palliative care, advance directives, grief and bereavement services, educational programs and other activities which nurture informed personal choices and respect for diverse cultural identities in the end-of-life experience. hospiceozarks.org
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