Western New York Perinatal Bereavement Network’s mission is to assist the community in meeting the needs of people facing perinatal death, the death of a baby from miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth, or early infant death.
Emily’s journey with the Western New York Perinatal Bereavement Network, Inc. is deeply personal and profound. Since joining in April 2021, she has channeled her own experiences of loss—losing Baby D in March 2013 and Selah Grace in October 2013—into compassionate support for others facing similar grief. Alongside her husband Todd, Emily has navigated the challenges of losing their children, while also supporting their two grown children, Preston and Kendra.
Emily’s dedication to the organization is fueled by her own experiences, and she is committed to using her time and energy to help those who are enduring their darkest moments. Her work is a testament to her strength and empathy, offering solace and understanding to families in need.
Kristen Smith stepped into the role as WNYPBN’s Family Support Coordinator in December 2022. As a bereaved mother of four, suffering three miscarriages during her and her husband’s journey of secondary infertility and the loss of a failed embryo transfer, Kristen brings her personal experience of loss and of navigating the road of infertility to her role. In support group, she relies on her empathy, compassion, and practical help to create a safe space for grieving and healing. Additionally, as a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Kristen is able to assist bereaved mothers who are handling their lactation, and she is pursuing her certification to become a Bereavement and Loss Doula.
Leading WNYPBN’s support groups and directly walking alongside the families of WNYPBN during their grief journey is a great honor to Kristen. Hearing WNYPBN’s families’ stories and learning about their babies is a high privilege and something Kristen holds dear to her heart.
Joanna and her husband Nate, along with their three living children – Benjamin, Amelia, and Jonathan – have experienced profound loss with the passing of their son Nicholas in April 2019. Nicholas, Jonathan’s twin, was born with a congenital heart defect and passed away shortly after birth. Despite their grief, Nicholas’s memory continues to resonate deeply within their family and the broader community.
Since their loss, Nate and Joanna have become deeply involved in the bereavement community. They’ve participated in support groups and contributed their time, talent, and resources to various organizations and events dedicated to supporting those in similar situations. Joanna, in particular, has been a pillar of support for newly bereaved mothers, offering empathy and guidance through personal meetings and conversations.
President – Joanna Weld
Vice President – Anne Marie Swartz
Secretary – Nancy Campbell
Treasurer – Terry O. Michalek
Additional Members: Dr. Vivien Carrion, Constance Perna, Rev. Richard Zajac,
Nate Weld, Jan Walkden, Jennifer Meegan, Dr. Munmun Rawat
Christine Scott – Founder
For Wings of Love inquiries, please reach out to Emily Doring
Thank you for supporting Western New York Perinatal Bereavement Network’s mission. Serving the bereaved families throughout the eight counties of WNY wouldn’t be possible without your support, time, and dedication. WNYPBN would like to thank all the volunteers for their donation of time, talent, and creativity. This includes the generous individuals helping run events like our annual Walk to Remember and Basket Raffle, as well as the bereaved parents who have offered their support to other bereaved parents in our network through the Peer-to-Peer Support program.
Due to the restrictions and safety precautions required by New York State because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WNYPBN has to restructure our annual events. In response to this series of unfortunate circumstances, the creative team has come up with alternatives to our annual events, while still paying tribute to your beautiful babies and helping others who are in need of assistance after the loss of their babies, while keeping our community safe.
Please visit our Events tab for information about our upcoming 2022 Events and Fundraisers. We hope you are all able to participate in one or all of our events as we adapt to our “New Normal” and continue to stay in good health and be safe. We are grateful for your support!
Thank you, Emily, Christine, Sue, Kelly and our Event Volunteer Committee
