By Marisa Dawson, Courtesy Photo

The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge took on a special meaning on October 15 as it illuminated pink and blue in recognition of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day and the International Wave of Light.

The lighting was made possible through a request from Bennington nonprofit Luna Babies Foundation, a Nebraska nonprofit that provides burial assistance to families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. The foundation also organized a community walk across the bridge that evening, inviting anyone wishing to remember a baby or show support for grieving families to participate.

The International Wave of Light is observed annually on Oct. 15. At 7 p.m. local time, people around the world light a candle and leave it burning for one hour. As time zones change, the candles create a continuous wave of light in remembrance of babies who have died.

For Bennington resident Lisa DeVall, who co-founded Luna Babies Foundation with Emily Burdett, having a recognizable Omaha landmark participate was about making a deeply personal experience more visible within the community.

The idea originated with a local mother who had experienced infant loss and recognized that Omaha did not have a public acknowledgment of the International Wave of Light. She reached out to the foundation, which submitted a request to have the pedestrian bridge illuminated pink and blue.

“Having such a recognizable landmark take part meant a great deal to us. It was a public acknowledgment of losses that are too often grieved privately,” DeVall said. “To us, the lighting carried a simple message: these babies matter, their families matter, and their grief deserves recognition.”

While the bridge lighting provided a visible reminder of the families affected by pregnancy and infant loss, the foundation’s work addresses another difficult reality families can face: the financial cost of laying their baby to rest.

DeVall and Burdett established Luna Babies Foundation in October 2023 after working with families through a perinatal hospice program. In that role, they witnessed parents navigating the unimaginable experience of planning their baby’s funeral while also worrying about how they would afford the expenses. One mother’s heartbreak over those costs stayed with them, but they soon realized the need extended beyond a single family.

“We knew families needed help, not another difficult decision driven by money,” DeVall said. “We created Luna Babies to ease that financial burden and remind families that they do not have to face their loss alone.”

The foundation provides financial assistance for burial and cremation expenses, including infant caskets and funeral services. Approved grants are paid directly to the mortuary, helping families honor their babies without having financial circumstances dictate their choices.

Since its establishment in October 2023, Luna Babies Foundation has assisted 25 families and provided more than $11,400 in financial assistance as of October 2026.

Many of the families served by the organization are already experiencing financial strain from pregnancy-related expenses, medical bills, high-risk pregnancies and time away from work. The loss of a baby can bring additional unexpected expenses at a time when families are already navigating significant grief.

While the foundation cannot take away the heartbreak of losing a child, DeVall said it hopes to remove at least one financial worry from an already difficult experience.

Beyond financial assistance, the foundation also hopes to change how communities talk about pregnancy and infant loss. DeVall said one of the biggest misconceptions is that a baby’s short life somehow makes the loss less significant.

“We wish more people understood that a baby does not have to live a long life to leave a lasting place in a family,” she said. “Parents are grieving their child, along with the milestones, experiences, and future they imagined together.”

That recognition is especially important for families who may feel their grief is something they must keep private. The foundation encourages open conversations and compassionate support, reminding people that acknowledging a loss can make a meaningful difference.

For friends and family members unsure of what to say, DeVall recommends keeping it simple and showing up.

“Our message is to show up with compassion rather than trying to find words that make the loss better. ‘I am so sorry. I am here for you’ can be enough,” she said.

She also encourages people to offer specific help, such as bringing a meal, assisting with errands or checking in without expecting a response. Following parents’ lead when discussing their baby, including using the baby’s name when appropriate, can also help families feel supported.

Most importantly, support should continue beyond the funeral.

For parents experiencing loss, DeVall wants them to know their grief is valid and they do not have to navigate it alone.

“Your baby matters. Your grief matters, and you do not have to carry it alone,” she said. “We want you to know there is a community ready to listen, remember your baby with you, and help where we can.”

Luna Babies Foundation hopes to continue expanding its reach, providing assistance to more families and building a community where pregnancy and infant loss are met with compassion rather than silence.

Nebraska families seeking burial or cremation assistance can visit lunababies.org and select “Request Assistance.” Families who would prefer to speak with someone first can email admin@lunababies.org.

Community members interested in supporting the foundation can visit its website’s “Get Involved” page to donate, learn about fundraising events and explore other opportunities to help.

“If readers remember one thing, we hope it is this: a life does not have to be long to be meaningful,” DeVall said. “Every baby deserves to be remembered, and every grieving family deserves support.”