Meet Elizabeth Michalski

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elizabeth Michalski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elizabeth, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I found my purpose through my children, beginning with Teddy, who our foundation is in honor of. I knew I wanted to give back to the loss community that had given me so much and got me through the worst time of my life. I wanted something simple, just a little reminder to parents that their babies matter, no matter how small. It has been an honor to remember so many sweet babies with their families.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

In 2018, my husband and I were over the moon to learn we were finally pregnant with our first child after fighting infertility and medical issues. Our joy was short lived, however, when our sweet baby boy, Theodore (Teddy) was born sleeping at 22 weeks after my water had broken too soon (PPROM). We welcomed Teddy’s siblings, Nathan and Delilah, in the years to follow, but our hearts still ache for the child we didn’t get to bring home.

One morning while watching Teddy’s siblings play, I pondered what ornament we would pick out for Teddy for our Christmas tree that year (our yearly tradition). The idea struck me – sending teddy bear ornaments to loss families… for FREE. I took the idea and RAN. Within a few months, I was officially registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and beginning my fundraising to make my little idea come to life. I set a goal to send 100 bears our first year – and we sent over 1,100 to families who had also experienced pregnancy/infant loss.

During the month of October, we will reopen our request page for FREE ornaments for these families, one per family (with the option to purchase additional). This will run until we are out of shipping funds, however we hope to reach as many families as we can with our mission!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Having experienced pregnancy loss myself gave me insight into this community. Not only how massive the community tragically is, but how underserved it is as well. We are a generation so much more open about mental health than ever before, and grief is no exception. I’ve always chosen to be open regarding my loss, and I feel having the courage to do so, gave me the courage to speak up for others, to stand up and say it’s okay to talk about the baby you lost. Because you didn’t just lose a child, you lost the entire future you had planned with them.

I feel my determination played a part in where we are today. Sometimes (to my husbands annoyance), once I get an idea in my head, it’s done. I need to put my plan into motion immediately, and that’s what I did with A Touch of Teddy. I hit the ground running, and it’s been such a bittersweet journey, connecting with loss moms, but also not wanting anyone else to join the club because no one wants to experience this heartbreaking loss. But if they do, we’re here to support.

Lastly, I believe I’m in a place of empathy and understanding. I’ve physically, emotionally, and mentally experienced what losing a child means. I firmly believe no loss is greater than another – and losses are not to be compared. Your loss is your own. And every loss is different. Different circumstances, different stories, which makes every single child unique, and missed in their own, beautifully tragic way. As a mom who can speak from experience, my heart aches for every family I have come to know, love and connect with along this journey.

My advice to anyone wanting to start your own nonprofit, is go with your gut. I said for a few years after Teddy’s passing I wanted to do something with my grief. I wanted to give back to the community that held my hand, and led me through the murky waters of battling my new reality. When the idea finally came to me, I knew in my soul this was it. This is how I wanted to honor Teddy, honor my grief, and put my experience to work. And I never looked back.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When feeling overwhelmed, I think taking a step back and taking a little break is key. Running a nonprofit focused on pregnancy/infant loss and grief is special and important. But it can also become a little heavy at times. It can weigh on the heart. I’ve read through hundreds of stories of loss shared with me by parents about their sweet babies gone too soon. I’m honored to be able to be trusted with the most intimate details surrounding their babies, and even being given the opportunity to share many of them with the world. But I do find it’s important, not just as someone running my pages, but as a human in general, to take steps back from social media. Giving myself time to process all of the feelings that come along with this mission. However, my inbox is always open and I do try to respond as timely as possible (I never said I was GOOD at taking breaks, LOL).

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