Lighting the Way: Honoring Little Lives and Healing Together

In December, the Footprints on My Heart team in the Mother Baby Unit at Confluence Health Hospital Central Campus hosted their annual tree lighting ceremony—a heartfelt memorial honoring infants lost to stillbirth or neonatal loss and offering solace to families who continue to carry love and grief for their children. Michelle Murphy, Maternal Support Services Nurse at Central, leads the Footprints on My Heart Program, coordinating these meaningful events and providing ongoing support to grieving families.

Reflecting on this year’s ceremony, Michelle remarked, “As always, these gatherings seem to be exactly what those present need at that moment. One of the challenges in planning is never knowing who or how many will attend, but over the years, we’ve witnessed the right group come together to remember the littlest ones and lift each other up.”

The 2025 tree lighting welcomed a mix of families—some returning, others newly bereaved—demonstrating how grief evolves and life can offer renewed hope and opportunities for joy. One family shared with Michelle, “We didn’t expect to come tonight, but decided to at the last minute. We had no idea how much we needed this—to remember and say his name out loud. It means the world to us.”

Michelle also expressed gratitude to those who support the Footprints on My Heart Program through donations to the Confluence Health Foundation: “Thank you for supporting this quiet program. Your generosity truly helps heal hurting hearts by remembering and honoring these tiniest little ones.”