How to Support a Grieving Parent & Keep A Child’s Memory Alive with The Madeleine Camille Foundation

Losing a child changes a family forever. Grief doesn’t simply disappear with time—and moving forward doesn’t mean leaving behind the person you love. In this episode, I sit down with Lauren McDaniel, co-founder of the Madeleine Camille Foundation, a nonprofit created in memory of her daughter, Maddie, who died unexpectedly at 37 days old in 2019. One of the most important parts of our conversation is something many of us struggle with: What do you say or do when someone you love loses a child? Lauren reminds us that grieving families don’t need perfect words. They need people willing to show up—whether that means sitting beside them, bringing dinner, helping with another child, continuing to check in, or simply saying their child’s name. As Maddie’s mother, one of Lauren’s greatest hopes is to keep her daughter’s memory alive. Her family honors Maddie through traditions, celebrations, and butterflies that have become a special reminder of her presence. That desire to remember Maddie also grew into a way to help others. What began as Maddie’s Bows eventually evolved into the Madeleine Camille Foundation, which provides direct financial support for families who have lost a child, including help with funeral expenses, therapy, meals, and other immediate needs. Lauren’s vision also helped create Maddie’s Playground at Coal Creek Park in Erie, Colorado, where more than 60 commemorative stones now honor children who have died and give families a place to remember them surrounded by laughter and play. In this episode, we cover: • Maddie’s story and Lauren’s experience with infant loss • What Lauren has learned through SIDS research • Why grief isn’t a linear process • What grieving parents truly need from the people around them • Why showing up and saying their child’s name matters • Creating meaningful traditions after loss • The story behind Maddie’s Bows • How the Madeleine Camille Foundation supports grieving families • Maddie’s Playground and the commemorative stones at Coal Creek Park (Erie, CO) • Caring for your emotional, physical, and relational well-being through grief • How our community can better support families after child loss Lauren describes grief like carrying a sharp stone in your pocket. At first, the edges are painful and you feel it constantly. Over time, those edges soften, but the stone remains. Today, Lauren finds joy, meaning, and connection while still carrying the loss of Maddie. For her, the foundation is one way she continues to parent her daughter and keep her memory alive—but she also reminds us that there is no single right way to grieve or honor someone you love. If you have experienced the loss of a child, know someone who is grieving, or simply want to better understand how to show up after profound loss, I hope this conversation offers comfort, perspective, and a reminder that none of us have to navigate grief alone. Because moving forward doesn’t mean moving on. We can continue living, loving, and finding joy while still carrying—and speaking the names of—the people we’ve lost. Connect with The Madeleine Camille Foundation: Instagram Facebook Nominate a Family for Sponsorship: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... Donate: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-... Learn more about Banned Book Bingo: https://theplayedcorp.com/upcoming-ev... Connect with The Erie Wellness Podcast: Instagram Facebook YouTube Be a Guest on the Podcast Advertise on the Erie Wellness Podcast