“I never want anyone to forget about her,” Maddie’s Footprints founder Lori McGrew says of her firstborn and namesake of the nonprofit organization, Madeline Noelle McGrew, who passed away during delivery in 2009. “And I think that rings true for most families.”

Losing a child is a parent’s worst nightmare, no matter their age. But when Lori and her husband Travis were faced with this nightmare, they received an outpouring of emotional and financial support from friends and family. To pay it forward and honor their baby girl, they began Maddie’s Footprints, ensuring her memory lives on by assisting families going through similar situations.

“As a mom, it has been very healing to meet so many families over the years and know that we aren’t alone in our grief,” Lori says. “In the first few years of the organization, we were helping around 10 families a year.”

Since then, Maddie’s Footprints has expanded the mission from Acadiana to include the Greater Baton Rouge area, serving 19 parishes in total. Last year, the organization assisted over 500 families and expects to exceed that number this year.

Formerly thought of as a taboo subject, Lori and the women behind Maddie’s Footprints are changing the narrative surrounding miscarriages and infant loss. They offer emotional support by connecting grieving families through events, group retreats and more, and they help bring closure through financial support for funerals and burial costs.

“My favorite thing about the job is connecting with the parents,” executive director Mandy Cushing says. “Interacting with the families, trying to think of new ways that we can help them, and of course, spreading our mission.”

The mental health offerings also include support groups, one-on-one grief counseling, and workshops throughout the year. “In December, we’ll have a workshop on managing grief during the holiday season,” program director Ashley Stroder says. “Everything we offer comes at no cost to the family.”

“As a mom, it has been very healing to meet so many families over the years and know that we aren’t alone in our grief.”

– Lori McGrew

In October, the annual Footprints Forever 5K will be held in Baton Rouge, serving as a fundraiser for the local families that Maddie’s Footprints helps and also as a birthday party for the babies taken too soon. It’s events like this that embody the organization’s mission to support one another by bringing grieving families together, showing them they are not alone in their struggles.

“Although Lori’s daughters, Noelle and Avery Anne, never got to meet Maddie, they understand that she will always be their big sister,” Mandy says. “I love watching them each year at the race, and it’s a good reflection of how meaningful this mission is.”

This commitment to remembrance is transformative for families working through grief. By eliminating the stigma around talking about infant and child loss, as well as miscarriage, those affected are able not just to seek the help they need but to connect with others and honor that part of their life and family.

“Sometimes, it’s the silent sufferers who struggle the most,” Lori says. “Having a place where we can openly discuss what we’re going through, ensuring our babies are never forgotten, is such a blessing.”

More from the Maddie’s Footprints team:

How has being involved with Maddie’s Footprints impacted you?

“Being involved with Maddie’s Footprints has shown me the incredible impact even a small act of involvement can have in a community. It’s given me amazing friendships with people I might never have met otherwise, and I’ve witnessed women turn their greatest heartbreak into a beautiful legacy for their child. The strength and bonds they share are truly inspiring.” – Claudia Frantz, volunteer

Why is the mission of Maddie’s Footprints important to you personally?

“Maddie’s mission is so important to me because I want every mom/family who experiences pregnancy or infant loss to get all the love and support from this organization that I got. In the absolute darkest time of my family’s lives, Maddie’s was there for us! And they continue to be! I gained a sisterhood and forever friends who are there for me at any hour, and help keep my baby boy’s memory alive.” – Jackie Walker, volunteer

Which program, initiative or event hosted by Maddie’s Footprints has been most meaningful to you? Why?

“The Footprints Forever race is right near the time I should have been delivering a healthy, lively baby Beckham. For me, it feels like his birthday party each year now. All of my friends and family run on our team (Blessed by Beckham). We always get his birthday cake and sing “Happy Heavenly Birthday,” and then go visit him at his grave. Last year, we were asked to be the spotlight family, so we celebrated what should’ve been Beckham’s first birthday by sharing his story on stage and doing a butterfly release in his honor.” – Jackie Walker, volunteer

Learn more about the organization and how to volunteer at maddiesfootprints.org.