Like many young couples, Andy and Erica Logan were excited to welcome their second child. “I was 31 weeks and 5 days pregnant,” said Erica. “A sonogram four days earlier confirmed all was well.”
Joyful expectations suddenly spiraled into disorienting shock and crushing sorrow. “We had no indication that our baby’s heart was going to stop – and then it did. Our dreams quickly turned into an unimaginable nightmare,” she said. “Despite many tests, we still don’t know why it happened. But we do know we could not have endured this traumatic [stillborn] experience without the tremendous support of the Perinatal Bereavement program at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission.”
“Guiding Us Through Every Bewildering Step”
Tricia Rausch, a nurse at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, coordinates the hospital’s Perinatal Bereavement and Postpartum Emotional Support program. “Tricia has been there for us every day to talk through the confusing, scary, sad feelings – the things no one can understand unless you’ve had a stillborn,” said Erica.
After her fourth child was stillborn nearly 15 years ago, Rausch threw herself into helping other families facing the same unthinkable situation. Today, she is the only nurse in the Kansas City metro dedicated full-time to perinatal bereavement and postpartum emotional support, including training other team members to ensure continuity of care.
Stillbirth is one of the most devastating losses, affecting over 24,000 families in the U.S. each year. The causes for most stillbirths are unknown.
“We understand the complex emotional toll of infant loss. Families experience a range of emotions including guilt, anger, sadness, loneliness and disbelief,” said Rausch. “Everything we do is dedicated to surrounding families like Erica and Andy Logan with compassionate care and providing resources they need on this difficult journey. And we continue to walk this journey with them for months, even years.”
Hannah’s Handprints, Footprints and Photos
“Tricia encouraged us to spend time holding Hannah — time we’re deeply grateful to have had with our baby,” said Andy. The program also coordinated handprints, footprints and photos of Hannah, along with a Christmas ornament and a special memory box that included the hat and blanket Hannah had been wrapped in. “They even provided a beautiful stuffed animal for us to bring home to Emma, our then two-year-old daughter, to give to her from her sister,” added Erica.
“We will always cherish the special mementoes of our daughter. Being in such shock as we were, I can’t imagine we would have had anything to remember her by without this very special program,” said Andy. “We’ve since learned that many families in our situation don’t receive the sensitive, caring and coordinated support like we did at AdventHealth.”
Logan Family Pickleball Tournament Raises Nearly $50,000
After the loss of Hannah, Erica and Andy participated in support groups led by Rausch. Erica also started playing pickleball with her dad. “The game helped me get my mind off things and helped rebuild my confidence,” she said. “Driving home after a game last summer, I had the idea to host a pickleball tournament to honor Hannah and also help raise funds to support the program.”
They reached out to the AdventHealth Kansas City Foundation which helped them coordinate the event. On November 6, 2022, more than 150 people attended the first annual Logan Family Pickleball Tournament at Chicken N Pickle, an indoor/outdoor entertainment facility in Overland Park, Kansas. The event raised more than $30,000 to benefit the AdventHealth Kansas City Foundation’s Perinatal Bereavement Fund. In October 2023, the second annual tournament raised nearly $20,000.
“Everyone grieves in their own way. Doing an event like this is what I knew how to do. It gave me something I could control when so much felt out of control,” said Erica.
Helping Families Feel Less Alone
“When tragedies like this happen in our community, we’re grateful there are trained, dedicated and truly amazing people like Tricia and the staff at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission who were there to pick us up when we couldn’t pick ourselves up,” shared Erica.
“And by sharing Hannah’s story through the tournament, we hope it helps others understand a little bit more about what families go through when they experience pregnancy loss or a stillborn child — and help others affected by such a tragic loss to feel less alone,” said Andy.
Vanessa Bonavia is a writer for AdventHealth.
To learn more, visit give-kcf.adventhealth.com/LoganFamily.
