No parent should ever have to bury their child — and no parent should be expected to return to work as if nothing happened.

My name is Sheila Landry, and I am the mother of Sage, my beautiful, kind, music-loving son who died by suicide. Losing him shattered my heart and my world. While trying to survive the darkest pain a parent can imagine, I quickly learned something devastating:

Louisiana does not require employers to offer bereavement leave — not even for the loss of a child.

Many grieving parents are forced to return to work immediately or risk losing their jobs. Others face judgment, stigma, and insensitive comments from coworkers who have never been taught how to support someone living with traumatic grief.

This is not compassion. This is not dignity. And this is not the Louisiana our families deserve.

It’s time for a change.

It’s time for Sage’s Law.

🕊️ What is Sage’s Law?

Sage’s Law is a proposed Louisiana state law that would:

1️⃣ Provide Mandatory Paid Bereavement Leave for Parents Who Lose a Child

At least 10–14 days of guaranteed paid leave, including for suicide loss

Protection from job loss or retaliation

The ability to use additional PTO or sick days if needed

No parent should be forced back to work while they are still trying to breathe, stand, or function after losing a child.

2️⃣ Require Grief Etiquette & Compassion Training in Workplaces

Most workplaces are not trauma-informed. Many grieving parents experience:

Hurtful or judgmental comments

Stigma around suicide

Pressure to “get over it”

Isolation from coworkers

Retraumatization

Sage’s Law would require basic grief awareness training for employees and supervisors, including:

What to say (and what NOT to say)

How to support traumatized coworkers

Understanding suicide loss and its unique impact

Trauma-informed communication

Available Louisiana mental health resources

This training could easily be provided by organizations like AFSP Louisiana, NAMI Louisiana, or certified grief educators.

💜 Why This Matters

Every year in Louisiana, families bury their children — from suicide, accidents, violence, illness, and unexpected tragedies.

Yet these families receive no guaranteed time to grieve…

No structured support…

And often, no compassion at work.

This is a public health issue.

This is a human issue.

This is a moral issue.

Grieving parents are not asking for special treatment — we are asking for basic humanity.

🌼 In Honor of My Son, Sage

Sage was loving, gentle, wise, funny, deeply empathetic, and full of light.

His absence is the deepest wound of my life.

But I will use my pain to fight for a world where grieving parents are treated with dignity, compassion, and understanding.

Sage’s memory deserves that.

ALL grieving parents deserve that.

✍️ What You Can Do

Please sign this petition urging Louisiana lawmakers to introduce and pass Sage’s Law:

✔ Mandatory paid bereavement leave for parents

✔ Required workplace grief etiquette training

✔ Trauma-informed support for families

✔ Recognition of child loss as a protected life event

Together, we can make Louisiana a state that honors the lives of lost children and the hearts of the parents left behind.

Please sign and share.

Please help me make Sage’s Law a reality.

🕊️ In loving memory of Sage

💜 And for every parent whose world has been forever changed.