Health
e
Side by Side 5K
ach year more than
two million women
and men in the United
States experience
pregnancy loss. These
numbers do not stand alone. The loss of
a pregnancy, whether through abortion
or miscarriage, impacts multiple lives,
including family members and friends.
People faced with the emotional effects of
this loss too often remain silent, or do not
know where to turn for help. Those close to
a loss are uncertain how to comfort people
or even engage them in conversation.
Life Perspectives, a nonprofit, educational
organization founded in 2000, is dedicated
to changing this. The organization offers
programs and services to help those who
are suffering alone, as well as providing
training and tips for family and friends who
want to help.
56 GBSAN.COM | APRIL 2018
Life Perspectives
HEALING AND HOPE FOR THOSE
EXPERIENCING PREGNANCY LOSS
“Our mission is healing,” said Michaelene Fredenburg, President and CEO of Life
Perspectives. “We understand that each person’s experience is unique, and we are
committed to assisting. We do our best to communicate that there is no right or
wrong way to react to a pregnancy loss and that there is no set timeline to process
the experience.”
Michaelene noted that many health professionals feel ill-equipped to meet the needs of
those who may be struggling with a reproductive loss. That is why Life Perspectives’
accredited Continuing Education seminars provide clinicians and caseworkers with
effective intake and screening tools in addition to best practices in grief support.
“I understand that it may feel uncomfortable to be mourning the loss of someone we
never knew. At Life Perspectives, our most important goal is to communicate hope
and healing. We provide safe, anonymous tools to begin healing and equip leaders to
effectively offer support,” Michaelene shared with Giving Back Magazine.