The Grieving Parents Support ‘Network’ (GPSN) and its sister charity organisation the ‘Association’ (GPSA) started as a passionate heart project by Nathalie Himmelrich, following her experience of the loss of her younger twin daughter in 2011.
As the support and outreach grew and since starting to create and offer not-for-profit resource material, it also had to grow in support behind the scenes.
The people working for GPSN and GPSA are offering their support with a lot of heart. They gift their talents to manage the organisational and administrative needs.
Thanks to those people mentioned here, GPSN and GPSA may remain true to its intent: to truly support and uplift bereaved parents.
Without their help, the organization wouldn’t be able to do as much as it now does.
With all my heart, thank you all for your continuous, heartfelt support. ~ Nathalie
Founder
Nathalie (Switzerland) is the association’s founder and president. She started the Grieving Parents Support Network (GPSN) when she wrote her first book Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple.
In addition to being an author, her professional background is as a psychotherapist, working as a relationship coach and grief recovery specialist. She loves to help people find their inspiration for healthy grieving and healing. Her passion is to write and re-think human behavior and emotion.
As part of the vision for support and a better understanding of the grieving process of the bereaved – especially bereaved parents – she created the GPSN followed by the GPSA. Find out more about Nathalie here.
Thank you for being here,¸.•*¨`*•✿ Nathalie Himmelrich ✿•*¨`*•.¸
Additional links: ❥ Website: www.nathaliehimmelrich.com | ❥ Books: http://nathaliehimmelrich.com/shop/
Technical support
Keem (USA) struggles to rediscover herself after the accidental death of her 12-year-old daughter, Karina, in 2015. She finds joy in her son Mark, and together with her husband, they rely on their faith in hope. They established Karina’s Joy Foundation to perpetuate Karina’s joyful spirit and giving nature through youth scholarships and acts of kindness. Keem shares her grief journey at Celebrating Karina. Keem supports the GPSN and GPSA in technical question around the website. She helps with layout, design and structure. She is also instrumental in project managing our not-for-profit project, such as the latest publication Surviving My First Year of a Child Loss: Personal Stories from Grieving Parents, for which she was one of the contributors.
Chris (Australia, Switzerland) is an entrepreneur and consultant. Chris is also an avid fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy films and novels. He is the father of twin girls, Ananda Mae and Amya Mirica. While still hurting from the death of Amya Mirica two days after she was born due to congenital defects, Chris continues to look forward to new challenges and loves spending time with his wife Nathalie and their daughter Ananda Mae. Chris supports the GPSN and GPSA in all questions around technology, specifically website and hosting. He is also the association’s actuary and treasurer.
Administration
Julia (Austria) became a single bereaved mom when her daughter Luisa unexpectedly died shortly after birth. Surviving this loss without Luisa’s father by her side complicated this journey, but she did not give up. Supporting other moms going through similar situations gives her meaning and strength. Julia shares aspects of her life on IG under @juliet1805. Most recently, her story was published in Surviving My First Year of a Child Loss: Personal Stories from Grieving Parents.
Julia supports the GPSN and GPSA with translations.
Admin team May We All Heal (MWAH) peer support group
Lisa (USA) has lived most of her life in Connecticut with five years in New Mexico while earning her nursing degree. Lisa and her husband, Scott, are parents to their surviving twin, William. After a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy, William and John made their arrival 14 weeks early. Lisa still does not have answers as to why she unexpectedly went into labor. Those early days caring for a critically ill infant and new baby included several twists and turns on the road. John remained with them for 10 beautiful days, a time Lisa cherishes and for which she is so grateful. Now a few years into her grief journey, Lisa has found helping and supporting others in the MWAH peer support group soothing to her broken heart. She manages membership requests and also welcomes parents joining the group. Join the group here.
Christine (USA) obtained her master’s degree from Marymount University in Virginia. She and her husband were overjoyed in 2013 to be expecting their first child. Sadly, their daughter Sophia was stillborn at 37 weeks. Christine’s life and priorities changed drastically as a result and she left her job with the federal government. She spent time working for the Kelly Ryan Foundation, a non-profit that helps with burial expenses for parents who have suffered loss. Now also mother to a delightful son, Max, Christine’s continued desire to connect with and help others who have experienced similar heartache led her to her role as a moderator for the MWAH peer support group. She is responsible for posting theme days and facilitating group member discussion. Most recently, her story was published in Surviving My First Year of a Child Loss: Personal Stories from Grieving Parents.
Ariane (Germany) studied English and Broadcast Media and works professionally as a journalist/photographer and translator. Her grief journey began in 2009 with her first miscarriage. She is now the mother of seven children and is raising two beautiful living daughters. When not writing, Ariane enjoys sewing. Both activities help her healing process. Being a part of the MWAH peer support group admin team allows her to help other parents process their grief and also share her own experiences of love and loss. Ariane finds that helping others is also helping her on her personal grief journey. Her story of loss and healing is included in the book, Surviving My First Year of a Child Loss: Personal Stories from Grieving Parents.