Navigating the Terrain of Grief

Recently, Kelly McDyre, our President and CEO, shared the story of the Child Loss Foundation’s purpose on the moving podcast episode, “Grief & Happiness” titled Three Days of Grief Leave? Why That’s Failing Bereaved Parents. In this conversation, Kelly powerfully speaks to the realities of grief, daring employers, and society at large to look directly at what has too often remained unseen: the lifelong journey of navigating child loss. 

Our Roots: Anchored in Love and Understanding 

The Child Loss Foundation is more than an organization—it is a union of heart and purpose. Our story began with the merging of two deeply dedicated organizations: Faith’s Lodge and The BeliEve Foundation. Faith’s Lodge was born from grief itself, created by first-time parents in the wake of their daughter’s stillbirth to help others find connection through shared experiences at a dedicated retreat facility with Child Loss Retreats. Similarly, The BeliEve Foundation was formed out of personal experience after loss and sought to offer practical financial support to grieving parents in Minnesota. The BeliEve Foundation understands that tangible assistances eases stress and allows families to focus on grieving their child.  

Together, Faith’s Lodge and the BeliEve Foundation became the Child Loss Foundation, forming a community where grieving parents can feel supported emotionally, physically, and financially. 

A Personal Resolve to Lead 

Leading the Child Loss Foundation is Kelly McDyre, the foundation’s President and CEO whose unwavering dedication is deeply rooted in personal experience. In 2010, Kelly’s life changed forever with the sudden loss of her 12-year-old nephew, Carter. That day began with a phone call from Kelly’s sister—a call filled with panic and fear. Carter was in an ambulance, and she needed help navigating the chaos. Kelly stepped in, determined to support her in any way she could, but Carter had passed away by the time she got to the hospital. 

Kelly instinctively stepped into a role she never expected to hold. Carter’s parents were overwhelmed, unable to find their voices under the crushing weight of grief. Kelly became that voice. She helped with anything, from decisions in moments when clarity felt impossible, to reminding them to drink water because crying so much left them dehydrated. 

 As the days passed, waves of friends and family came forward, unsure of how to help. “What do you need?” became a recurring question, one met with silence—not because Carter’s family didn’t need anything, but because in such raw grief, it’s hard to know where to begin. 

After a therapist mentioned Faith’s Lodge, Carter’s family attended a Child Loss Retreat. When her sister came back, Kelly saw firsthand the transformative power of that retreat. Faith’s Lodge was so much more than a weekend away—it was a sacred space where Carter’s name was spoken, where the tears flowed freely, and where stories of child loss could be shared without fear or judgment. It offered Carter’s family a respite from wearing the mask of being okay, allowing them to grieve openly among those who truly understood. 

Walking alongside her sister, Kelly began to realize the profound impact such spaces could have. Faith’s Lodge provided not just a refuge, but also a community—a place where grief and healing could coexist. When Kelly was later approached about a job at a non-profit, tears came to her eyes when she was told it was Faith’s Lodge. 13 years later here she is and feels that it is exactly where she belongs. 

Tackling the Challenges Bereaved Parents Face 

On the Grief & Happiness podcast, Kelly sheds light on the gaps that exist in understanding and supporting parents grieving a child. Some of the issues discussed include: 

• The inadequacy of three days of grief leave: Most workplaces offer a standard three days for bereavement leave, but as Kelly highlights, this policy blatantly fails to reflect the lifelong journey of loss grieving parents endure. Grief doesn’t stop at three days—it becomes part of who parents are, and they deserve both time and empathy to navigate this new reality. 

• Practical financial support: Funeral bills, memorial costs, medical bills, mortgages, utility bills; logistical and financial burdens after the loss of a child force families to set aside their grief just to survive. The BeliEve Fund (formerly The BeliEve Foundation) is there to fill this gap, offering financial assistance to give families a moment to breathe. 

• Child Loss at Work: This employer sponsored benefit is designed to equip employers with the tools to support bereaved parents as they transition back to work. Guidance for the transition back to work can make all the difference, and this service aims to create environments where understanding and patience replace stigma and silence. 

• Healing spaces built for connection: Our Child Loss Retreats at Faith’s Lodge, offer grieving families a chance to pause, share, and heal in a supportive community of parents who truly understand their pain. As Kelly shares in the episode, we are hoping to expand this program nationally to ensure more parents have access to these vital retreats. 

• The coexistence of grief and joy: One of the most tender yet empowering truths Kelly shared is this: grief and joy can live side by side. It’s possible to honor your child’s life and memory while finding moments of beauty and light amidst the shadows of sorrow. 

Join Us in Our Mission 

Please take some time to listen to Kelly’s heartfelt conversation on Grief & Happiness. Together, we can reshape how grief is approached—not as a fleeting moment, but as a lifelong experience that reshapes lives, workplaces, and communities. 

At the Child Loss Foundation, we don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we commit wholeheartedly to walking this path beside grieving parents. As Kelly said so poignantly, grief isn’t something that should be carried in isolation. Together, we are community and family, united by loss, yes—but also by love for the children gone too soon.