Iowa State Coordinator, HOPE Mentor, National Social Media Team

My name is Christine Grothe. I currently reside in Muscatine Iowa with my husband, Barry. I am the proud mother of 6 children, 4 in heaven and two on earth. My children on earth are Corey and Abby, and my children in heaven are Mackenzie, Peyton and Jamie all of which were miscarried, and Nora Elizabeth who was born still June 3 ,2001 for unknown reasons. Our family was completely devastated by her loss at the end of the pregnancy, and the total abandonment of family and friends. We were also shocked at the lack of resources for families who have lost a child.

Since losing Nora, I have been looking for ways to honor her memory and to help other stillbirth parents. I am active in several online support boards, helping to moderate one.  I was involved with National Stillbirth Society helping to get babies who are stillborn recognized. It was through NSS that I heard of  MISS and wanted to be a part of this organization.

I have also volunteered at our local hospice coordinating research on internet resources for children and grief. I have learned much about children and grief while watching my own children grieve the loss of their sister. It is my hope someday to become a grief counselor specializing in child loss and children’s grief.

christine.grothe@missfoundation.org