Who we are
Based in Hillsdale, Michigan, the EPLA is a non-profit founded by Emily Carrington. After experiencing two miscarriages in 2014, Emily became aware of the hushed culture surrounding early pregnancy loss. As she grieved the loss of her children, she noticed that this feeling of isolation was only increased because of lack of resources available for women and families grieving early pregnancy loss. While paying miscarriage-related medical bills in January of 2015, Emily started to work on a simple idea:
"What if we could make just one of these bills go away for other women?"
After a year and half of talking to women, families, pastors, medical professionals, and care providers, the need for a community of people, educational resources, and financial support became clear. People came together with a goal of caring for women and families following early pregnancy loss. This simple idea evolved into the EPLA.
"What if we could make just one of these bills go away for other women?"
After a year and half of talking to women, families, pastors, medical professionals, and care providers, the need for a community of people, educational resources, and financial support became clear. People came together with a goal of caring for women and families following early pregnancy loss. This simple idea evolved into the EPLA.
What we do
It is the mission of EPLA to help bear the burden of grief for women and families who have experienced the isolating heartache of early pregnancy loss by encouraging community, contributing to public discourse, and providing educational and financial resources for professionals and families.
To fulfill this mission, EPLA currently provides the following services:
Local Services (Available in Hillsdale, Michigan, and surrounding counties)
National Services
Future Services
To fulfill this mission, EPLA currently provides the following services:
Local Services (Available in Hillsdale, Michigan, and surrounding counties)
- Educational Resource Folders
- Miscarriage Care Kits
- Care-provider Networking
- Community Education
National Services
- Miscarriage awareness initiatives
- Miscarriage care kits
- Digital education content
- Website, blog, and podcast
Future Services
- Financial support
Our core values
AFFIRMING LIFE
Early pregnancy loss is the loss of a unique and infinitely valuable life often bringing great grief to women and families as they suffer this loss.
BEARING BURDENS
Women and families experiencing early pregnancy loss are carrying the weight of death. In isolation, this weight seems too great for one to bear. But together, when we carry one another's burdens, the weight is eased by making room for peace and hope.
Early pregnancy loss is the loss of a unique and infinitely valuable life often bringing great grief to women and families as they suffer this loss.
BEARING BURDENS
Women and families experiencing early pregnancy loss are carrying the weight of death. In isolation, this weight seems too great for one to bear. But together, when we carry one another's burdens, the weight is eased by making room for peace and hope.
LOVING PEOPLE
Early pregnancy loss brings anger, confusion, frustration, and sorrow. These emotions can lead to both emotional sensitivity and a hardening heart in order to cope with the grief. To meet their unique needs during this time, women and families will be treated in a loving, nurturing, and respectful way.
Early pregnancy loss brings anger, confusion, frustration, and sorrow. These emotions can lead to both emotional sensitivity and a hardening heart in order to cope with the grief. To meet their unique needs during this time, women and families will be treated in a loving, nurturing, and respectful way.
ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY
Together we can do more. To better bear the burdens of women and families, a variety of organizations and professionals can work together to meet these needs. Medical professionals, counselors, churches, and related non-profits all offer unique services to help ease the emotional, psychological, and financial burden of early pregnancy loss.
Together we can do more. To better bear the burdens of women and families, a variety of organizations and professionals can work together to meet these needs. Medical professionals, counselors, churches, and related non-profits all offer unique services to help ease the emotional, psychological, and financial burden of early pregnancy loss.
GRIEVING TOGETHER
Because of the hushed culture concerning pregnancy loss, many women do not know how to understand their heartache. Everyone grieves differently, and, though common, early pregnancy loss is an intensely personal experience. Whether they choose to grieve publicly or privately, women and families need a safe environment to experience grief. By acknowledging the frequency of early pregnancy loss and recognizing it as a death, families are granted space to grieve.
Because of the hushed culture concerning pregnancy loss, many women do not know how to understand their heartache. Everyone grieves differently, and, though common, early pregnancy loss is an intensely personal experience. Whether they choose to grieve publicly or privately, women and families need a safe environment to experience grief. By acknowledging the frequency of early pregnancy loss and recognizing it as a death, families are granted space to grieve.
Why Tulips?
A single purple tulip serves as the logo for our nonprofit. An early sign of spring, tulips bring life and color to an often dreary and cold world and also symbolize love. There is also a deeper meaning behind the purple tulip. Our founder, Emily, has experienced three miscarriages, and to remember her children she purchases purple flowers for each child. While purple is her favorite color, it is also the combination of pink and blue, the colors traditionally associated with newborn babies. Because many families who miscarry do not know the gender of their baby, both colors are often used to symbolize miscarriage, such as the pink and blue remembrance ribbon.