The Village Retreat 2025
The Village of Stillborn Mamas - 7th Annual Retreat
Some moments are too sacred for words to fully hold.
The 2025 Village Retreat was one of those moments. Last November, we welcomed five new stillborn mamas and their babies into The Village Retreat community.
It was a gathering where grief was spoken, love was witnessed, and this year’s mamas began the quiet, courageous work of healing together.
Watching these women open their deepest wounds in a room full of strangers and seeing those strangers become a source of unwavering support is the kind of experience that reminds you how powerful it is to be surrounded by people who understand.Hearing what the Mamas had to say…
Courage, vulnerability, and love lived side by side in one shared space.
Every retreat carries familiar elements that create a foundation for healing. Yet each year also brings something beautifully unique with each mama who attends.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to reserve a space that allowed several mamas from past retreats to return - not as participants, but as women ready to pour into those just beginning their own healing journey.
Melissa Smith, Mama to Chloe
I decided to attend The Village Retreat not knowing exactly what I needed – just knowing I couldn’t keep carrying the weight of loss alone. What I found there was more than comfort. It was a place where every woman understood the language of loss without needing explanations, apologies, or disclaimers.
At the Retreat, you’re met exactly where you are. There’s space to cry without feeling dramatic. Space to laugh without feeling guilty. Space to speak your baby’s name out loud and have it received with tenderness. Space to simply be – in grief, in love, in exhaustion, in longing.
You learn quickly that you’re not “too much.” Not too broken. Not too emotional. Not too far behind everyone else. You’re simply a mother loving her baby in the only way she can now.
There’s something deeply healing about sitting with other moms who know. There’s a softness in their eyes that says, “I’ve been where you are. I’m still there too. But I’m surviving – and you will too.”
Whether your loss happened a month ago or 20 years ago, there is acknowledgement that your baby’s life and story matters.
Jamee Helton, Mama to Adeline Miller
The retreat was AMAZING and truly therapeutic for me on my healing journey. Being able to openly talk about Adeline in a safe space meant so much, and connecting with others who understand this kind of loss was incredibly meaningful.
The food, the activities, the thoughtful gifts, and the beautiful location made everything feel so intentional and nurturing.
I left feeling lighter, supported, and genuinely helped. I’m so grateful for you, your mission, and the heart you put into creating such a meaningful experience.
Melody Ellis, Mama to Aymara
January 17th is the day my daughter, Aymara, should be here. I once anticipated this day with joy after hearing it from the doctor, imagining a baby and a future for us. Instead, it is now a day marked by loss—the loss of my baby, my plans, and the future I had envisioned.
Aymara came as a surprise, and losing her has been the greatest pain I have ever experienced. I have been walking through this grief without a partner, and while friends and family have supported me, I still felt that no one fully understood my pain.
It wasn’t until I attended The Village Retreat that I finally felt seen, understood, and loved. In a room full of strangers who shared this same loss, I was able to speak freely about Aymara. It was deeply healing, especially so soon after my loss.
Even in heartbreak, I found my community. The Village showed me the importance of being surrounded by women who understand this kind of grief. There is no judgment—only acceptance. I can grieve in my own way, without explanation.
Now, when I have hard days, I know I can reach out and be understood. I can say Aymara’s name freely. She is honored here, and so am I as her mother, even with empty arms.
Peggy McBride, Mama to Joey
This experience was truly a gift. As soon as I walked into the house, a sense of solidarity, understanding and calm washed over me.
The grief that comes along with baby loss is all consuming and incredibly isolating. Through this retreat, I was able to honor my baby and the babies of the women around me in a way I had never experienced. I felt completely held, understood, and loved. There was no pressure, just a heartfelt and genuine invitation to just be and participate in whatever way felt right.
The activities were so thoughtfully planned and meaningful and allowed us to celebrate and honor our babies.
I am so incredibly grateful for the experience and the amazing group of women I met and still have the support of to this day. I left on Sunday feeling lighter and much less alone.
Some wounds can only be understood by those who carry them too.
The Village is where broken hearts find compassion, where tears are met with gentleness, and where mothers remind one another that hope can exist alongside heartbreak.
Every story is unique, but we are united by the love we carry for our babies.
These experiences cannot be fully captured in words or photographs. No matter how we try to describe them, they fall short of what it feels like to be in a space where grief is not hidden and healing is not rushed.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way.
