In November 2025, my husband and I experienced the greatest joy and heartbreak of our lives. Our daughter, Vivienne Grace Jones, entered this world far too soon after I developed severe preeclampsia. While she blessed us with her presence for only four precious days in the NICU, her short life transformed us profoundly.

The loss of a child is a tragedy beyond words, one that no family should have to endure. In the aftermath of Vivienne’s passing, we discovered bereavement support in healthcare settings is inconsistent, lacking a standardized approach across the nation.

The devastating reality is that not all families receive the empathetic and adequate bereavement care they need. Healthcare protocols should not exacerbate the grief of losing a loved one but rather provide solace and guidance. That’s why we are advocating for a national bereavement care standard, aptly named The Grace In Care Act. This act would ensure that every family in their darkest hours receives the compassionate and comprehensive care they deserve.

The Grace In Care Act seeks to establish clear guidelines for healthcare providers. It would require training in emotional support for families experiencing a loss, streamline access to grief counseling resources, and ensure follow-up care to support mental health recovery. Research by the National Bereavement Association has shown that such measures significantly aid in the healing process, helping parents cope with the challenges of life after loss.

I am asking for your support in sponsoring and introducing the Grace in Care Act, legislation designed to establish statewide standards for perinatal and infant bereavement care. While I know the bill will continue to evolve through collaboration with healthcare professionals, families, and legislators, its mission is simple: to ensure every family experiencing pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or infant loss receives compassionate, trauma-informed, and consistent care, regardless of where they live.

The legislation would seek to:

Establish minimum bereavement care standards for hospitals caring for families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss.
Require education and training for healthcare professionals in compassionate, trauma-informed bereavement care.
Ensure families are offered memory-making opportunities and informed about available support resources.
Promote continuity of care and appropriate follow-up after discharge.
Improve accountability so that no family falls through the cracks during one of the most devastating experiences imaginable.

We call upon our leaders, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to enact The Grace In Care Act. Together, we can foster a healthcare system that honors those we've lost by providing the respect and care their families need.

The Grace in Care Act is not about politics. It is about humanity. It is about ensuring that when medicine can no longer save a baby, we can still care for the family with compassion, dignity, and respect.

Please join us in this crucial initiative. By signing this petition, you are helping us set a national standard that will change countless lives by providing dignity and grace in the face of tragedy. Let's ensure every family has the support they need when it matters most.