Most companies give grieving parents just three days to “move on”—but what happens when the real pain begins on day four? We explore the deeper reality of child loss, the healing power of grief retreats, and why workplaces must do better to support employees through unimaginable loss.
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Kelly McDyre, the President and CEO of the Child Loss Foundation, an organization devoted to supporting parents who have experienced the unimaginable loss of a child. With more than a decade of nonprofit leadership experience, Kelly has dedicated her career to creating compassionate spaces for healing through retreats, resources, and workplace programs. Her work is deeply personal—sparked by the sudden death of her 12-year-old nephew in 2010, which led her to walk alongside grieving families with empathy and purpose. Kelly previously served as Executive Director at Faith’s Lodge, where she helped establish a sanctuary for bereaved parents, and later played a key role in its merger with the Believe Foundation to form the Child Loss Foundation. She also founded Child Loss at Work, an innovative program designed to help employers provide meaningful support to grieving employees.
Throughout this episode, Kelly offers heartfelt insights into her journey and the impact of the Child Loss Foundation’s work. She shares how the organization came to life through the merging of two powerful missions—Faith’s Lodge’s retreat-based healing model and the Believe Foundation’s practical financial support. Kelly introduces listeners to the foundation’s expanding national reach and its goal to create more accessible grief retreats across the country. She also explains how Child Loss at Work is transforming the way employers approach grief in the workplace, advocating for more compassionate policies and better understanding. With warmth and Wisdom, Kelly reminds us that while grief never fully fades, it can coexist with joy—and that no parent should ever have to navigate loss alone.
Tune in as Kelly McDyre shares how her Family’s loss inspired her to create healing retreats for bereaved parents and workplace programs that bring empathy, connection, and space for both grief and joy.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Meet Kelly McDyre and the Child Loss Foundation (1:00)
The origins: Faith’s Lodge and the Believe Foundation Merge (1:45)
Kelly’s personal connection to child loss (6:00)
Retreats as safe spaces for grieving parents (9:50)
Expanding the reach of grief retreats (10:30)
Grief and joy can coexist (15:00)
What not to say to a grieving parent (20:30)
Fixing grief support at work: The “3 days off” problem (24:00)
Loss at work: A program to transform workplace compassion (25:30)
Writing, rituals, and the lifelong nature of grief (31:30)
Connect with Kelly McDyre:
Website – Child Loss Foundation
Let’s Connect:
The Grief and Happiness Alliance
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