10News honors Tracy Swanson and the entire Empty Cradle Leadership Team, for providing a support group to families who have lost their children before or soon after birth.

Empty Cradle is a 501(c) non-profit organization that was founded in San Diego in January 1982. Through counseling, education and support groups held by the organization’s volunteers, the bereaved families learn to cope with their loss and ease their pain. Over the last twenty five years, Empty Cradle has touched the lives of hundreds who have joined the group by coordinating support meetings, providing information and referrals for families in need of help. Through sharing, reading, and listening, the families come to understand that their feelings are natural, thus giving them a sense of direction and hope.

After losing her second child at birth in 1999, Swanson went to Empty Cradle for moral support and peer counseling to come to terms with her loss. Within a year of joining Empty Cradle, Swanson became a volunteer. Swanson is currently the president of Empty Cradle, working hard with other volunteers to make sure that grieving families have a place to go and heal.

Swanson along with the rest of Empty Cradle Leadership Team and volunteers have dedicated hundreds of hours to keep the organization going strong. Through their hard work and dedication, many families have been able to cope with their loss. Over the last thirteen years, Swanson has sacrificed time away from her four children to help ease the pain of others who are dealing with the devastating loss of a baby.

Empty Cradle has serviced hundreds of families encountering miscarriages or stillbirths. No dues or fees are required of anyone using their services. The volunteers of Empty Cradle strive to ease the pain of others who are dealing with the loss of a baby through support meetings. These meetings are held once a month in three locations at volunteer homes.

The other members of the Empty Cradle Leadership Team are: Jeannie Martinez (Secretary and Webmaster), Polly von Richter (Treasurer and Riverside Meeting Coordinator), Lynn Roark (East County Meeting Coordinator), Lori Golden (East County Meeting Coordinator and Community Liaison), Nicole Nash (Librarian), Virunya Bhat (Materials Coordinator) and Lucy Belian (Newsletter Editor)

For more information, please contact Empty Cradle at 619-595-3887 or visit www.emptycradle.org.