Helping Starts at Home—How One Employee Used Loss to Support Others

When Megan and Mac Foster found out they were expecting, they were ecstatic. But joy soon turned to sorrow when their daughter, Poppy, arrived stillborn in March 2022.

Stillbirths are rare, affecting less than 1% of all pregnancies in the U.S. Megan, a nursing unit director at CRMH, learned a genetic blood-clotting disorder contributed to their loss. 

To help other families honor their stillborn child, the Fosters raised more than $7,000 toward the purchase of a Caring Cradle, the latest generation cooling bassinet that allows grieving parents to spend more time with their baby. 

“Having time to bond with a stillborn child is a vital step in the grieving process,” explains Jennifer Copening, CRMH OB Antepartum nursing unit director. “It allows families to create memories, say their goodbyes, and acknowledge the profound love they feel—helping them begin to heal and honor their child’s life, no matter how brief.” 

While hospitalized for a few days because of her condition, Megan began researching ways to improve the process for families after a stillbirth, drawing on her own experience of having limited time with her daughter. 

“Once I learned about the Caring Cradle, Mac and I quickly decided we wanted to do this for other families in our community,” says Megan. 

From her background as a pediatric nurse, Megan also understood that siblings affected by loss need time and space to say goodbye. The Caring Cradle gives families greater access and flexibility, allowing their baby to remain in the room longer and letting their time together be guided by their needs—not by clinical timelines. 

Megan and Mac recognized the value in sharing their story and educating others about loss. They learned it was important to find a way to move forward and honor the milestones.  

“What you do after discharge can encourage others,” says Megan. “We want to meet families where they are. The Caring Cradle is a way we can honor Poppy, while helping to support families enduring infant loss and stillbirth.” 

“We’re doing what we think is a good step forward to support others,” says Mac. “Nobody equips you for something like this, but I think we did a really good job using our experience to strengthen our foundation and impact others.” 

In 2025, the Caring Cradle made a difference for 48 families grieving the loss of their child. 

Such selfless acts of compassion are a hallmark of our Carilion employees, who also stock clothes closets for patients in need, fund hotel stays for out-of-town patient families and give generously each year to help colleagues weather unexpected hardships. 

You can learn more about these and other acts of generosity in our Carilion Clinic Foundation's latest donor impact report.

Editor's note: Megan, Mac, and Lincoln have since welcomed Abigail into their family. Full circle moment, some of the nurses photographed were Megan's L&D nurses during deliveries for Poppy and Abigail.