ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Every October, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month serves as a time for families to come together, share their grief and honor the lives of babies lost too soon. It aims to foster open conversations, provide much-needed support for grieving families, and raise awareness about the significant impact of infant loss.

What You Need To Know

  • Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month provides support for grieving families and honors babies lost too soon

  • After losing her daughter to Trisomy 18, Courtney Savigny created a program at Unity Hospital to support families facing infant loss

  • Memory boxes filled with donated items offer comfort and a tangible connection to families experiencing the loss of an infant

For Courtney Savigny, a clinical nurse leader in Perinatal Medicine at Unity Hospital, this cause has a deeply personal connection. During her time in nursing school, she cared for a patient who had lost a child. Little did she know that she would one day experience the same heartbreaking loss.

"It was challenging because I'm a very type-A person. I like to plan and  be ready for everything, but with this, it was like, 'what are you planning for?'" Courtney said.

In 2016, Courtney's pregnancy took a tragic turn when she discovered her unborn daughter had Trisomy 18, a rare genetic disorder caused by an extra chromosome. Faced with an unthinkable decision, Courtney and her husband chose to continue the pregnancy, planning to provide comfort care for their daughter.

"Her name was Lillian," Courtney shared.

Lillian was born at 36 weeks and lived for about nine hours, leaving an indelible mark on her family.

"I had a little bucket list that I wanted to do with her. I painted her toenails. While I was reading to her, her breathing slowed down, and I called my husband over. We just watched her take her last breath," said Courtney. "It was peaceful, quiet, and it was just the three of us."

After experiencing such an immense loss, Courtney returned to her work with a renewed mission — to support others facing similar pain. She created a program at Unity Hospital designed to provide families grieving the loss of an infant with resources, professional support and care. Her goal is to ensure that no one has to face the journey of grief alone.

"We've created resources for patients with professional support from people who specialize in pregnancy and infant loss," she explained.

One of the hospital’s special initiatives includes providing memory boxes filled with items donated by organizations and families who have also experienced loss. These boxes, filled with tangible tokens of love and comfort, offer grieving families something to hold onto during their darkest moments.

"We try to give you as many tangible items as we can," Courtney said. "Local moms have donated stuffed animals. Church groups have made outfits from recycled wedding gowns. We have knitted blankets and angel charms."

Katie Smith, a labor and delivery nurse at Rochester General Hospital, shared how these items play a meaningful role in helping families cope.

"I continue to think about their baby when I pass what they've donated along. I feel honored to help them navigate this time," Smith said.

For Courtney and her family, the memory of Lillian remains a constant source of strength and inspiration. After her loss, the Savigny family has grown. Their children, Violet and Jacob, are reminders of hope and perseverance, embodying the journey from grief to healing.