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Allison Anderson
Support Group Leader & Parent Education
I am the mother of four beautiful children. Our second child, and only son, Beckett Lee, was born still at 37 weeks in September 2012. After our loss, I searched for groups specific to this type of loss, and found nothing relevant in my area. I sought the advice of a dear friend, and fellow bereaved parent. Her understanding and empathy got me through those early months. In return, I have dedicated myself to helping other parents navigate the ebb and flow of their grief. I believe Beckett has provided many blessings, including pointing me in the direction to help other families through their loss. Since 2012, I have worked to advocate for parents of infant loss, spoken at remembrance ceremonies, participated in fundraisers, and provided community education. I am also a founding member and co-facilitator of Heaven’s Hummingbirds.
I was born and raised in Alaska, and moved to Arizona in 2004. My husband, Nick, and I are privileged to be raising three amazing girls, my sunshine and two rainbows: Harper, Remy, and Scarlett. I am also a former educator. In my “spare” time, I visit our assisted living home, co-lead a MOPS group, run a book club, co-facilitate a mom group, snap photos, see as many movies as possible, and speak as openly and honestly about my sweet Beckett as possible. I feel a kin to my fellow bereaved parents, and remember, honor, and cherish them always.
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Thomas Arbaugh, Mdiv, MSC, BCC
Support Group Leader
I currently serve as a hospital chaplain with Dignity Health at Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers. It is an honor to support the emotional and spiritual health of patients, their families and our multidisciplinary team. I am originally from Northern California where my wife and I were married in 2005. We moved to Tennessee in 2010 so I could pursue graduate studies. We relocated once again in 2018 to Arizona and intend on making the East Valley our permanent home. We have three children with whom I spend the majority of my free time. Their names are Eden, Elias, and Estin.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in social work from California State University, Chico, a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in care and counseling from Emmanuel Christian Seminary, and a Master of Science in clinical counseling from Milligan College. I am ordained and endorsed by the Independent Christian Church and board certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains. I am currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in organizational leadership with an emphasis in healthcare administration from Grand Canyon University.
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Jennifer Butson
Fundraising & PR
I have never been shy to talk about my son, Bowen, and this openness carved the path for starting Heaven’s Hummingbirds. After being released from the hospital with empty arms, we returned home. The grief was overwhelming, but we felt God’s presence and from that day on, our lives were inundated with hummingbirds. Everywhere that we seemed to go, they were there. The hummingbirds provided a peace to us in our grieving. We felt God’s presence in those beautiful creatures as if reminding us that just because our son was gone, he most certainly was not lost. He is with Jesus and we would see him again.
I am currently an entrepreneur and owner of Ananda Salon and Skin Center in Chandler. I also have 3 daughters here on earth that I am raising with my husband of 11 years, Brian. I believe that God has placed me here in this place and time to serve this ministry. Other than being a co-founder of the support group, Heaven’s Hummingbirds, I also love fundraising and promoting this ministry.
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Georgi Feidler
Operations & Partnerships
My first baby, Paige, joined the Lord just 6 days after she was born. When we were in the hospital facing this unbearable pain, my husband, Rob and I so desperately wanted to talk with someone who had been through it too, but when we asked, we were told that there was no one. We had wonderful doctors, nurses and social workers who provided us sympathy, but none had been through what we were facing. What we needed was empathy. And that is at the heart of Heaven’s Hummingbirds. In this time, we also experienced God’s infinite love, comfort, and provision. God saves in suffering, and through Paige, my husband and I found faith, hope and peace.
I am currently an Executive HR Talent Consultant and owner of LTP Advantage, a firm that inspires companies and employees to passionately engage in their work to create big and meaningful impact in the world. I have 2 more beautiful girls here with my husband of 10 years, Rob. I help drive the initiatives operationally in partnership with each team member, and support alliances and program strategy. Serving others by lighting the path has been my greatest honor...and I feel so blessed that God has called me to this ministry to provide empathy and look into the eyes of other bereaved parents to say, “you are not alone.”
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Caitlin Gonzales, LMSW
Support Group Facilitator & Parent Education
My husband Paul and I found ourselves happily expecting our first child in 2011. We were nearly 8 months into a perfect pregnancy when our son, BelloSanto, was delivered still Nov. 1, 2011. After the death of BelloSanto, and realizing how isolating and taboo pregnancy and infant loss can be, I focused my life on supporting bereaved parents. I have attended trainings and continuing education classes on grief, traumatic death, women’s issues, and bereavement. I trained and became a Grief Support Group facilitator through New Song, Hospice of the Valley in 2017 and have been facilitating our group ever since. In May 2023, I graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from New Mexico State University and obtained my LMSW licensure. My graduate studies included grief & bereavement, research, mental health, and in-depth exploration into the systems and dynamics that help and hinder individual and community healing.
Paul and I live in Gilbert with our two living sons, Cesare and Vittorio. We enjoy exploring Arizona, our neighboring states and getting out into nature as often as we can. Aside from Heaven’s Hummingbirds, I work as a Program Development and Evaluation Coordinator for a local nonprofit, ensuring their programs are equitable and impactful. My heart and soul belong to the bereaved and their children, and I am blessed to serve them in any way I can.
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Anica Martinez
Support Group Facilitator & Parent Education
I am a mom of two beautiful amazing babies. My Daughter, Brooklyn Skye was born still November 19th of 2013 and my son (my rainbow) was born February of 2015. In 2013, my life changed forever, the year began with a path of hope and excitement and abruptly moved into pain and darkness. I was almost 7 months when my heart and then the ultrasound, told me my baby didn’t have a heartbeat. The pain I experienced with my child dying before me was devastating and left me feeling empty. Since then, as I have traveled through my healing journey, my heart has called me to serve other parents that have faced the same experience. I learned to honor my grief and ride the waves that life presented to me. My daughter has given me strength, she has taught me about selflessness, courage and her greatest gift infinite love. In 2017, I trained to become a Grief Support Group facilitator through New Song, Hospice of the Valley. I’ve spent time co-facilitating our group, helping with educational seminars, fundraising and assisting with the administration of our social media group.
In my day to day life, I work in the HVAC industry as an Account Manager for Trane. I recently purchased a new beautiful home with my amazing fiancé Kyle and we are planning for our wedding in March of 2021 in beautiful Sedona. I’ve enjoyed finding ways to include Brooklyn in our life and especially in our special day.
I am passionate about supporting bereaved families as they venture through their grief journey. I enjoy providing creative and artistic ways for bereaved parents to process their grief while remembering and honoring their babies.
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Lori Remley, RNC
Perinatal Bereavement Coordinator, Maternal Child Health, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center - Family Support & Hospital Partnerships/Education
I have been a Registered Nurse since 1998 serving in the labor and delivery department since 2000. After years of serving bereaved parents and caring for their precious babies, I was ‘accidentally’ given the position of Perinatal Bereavement Coordinator at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in 2012. I believe that God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called. In 2016, He created the path for me to help found Heaven’s Hummingbirds...a place I had hoped for, a place for bereaved parents to connect with other bereaved parents. This was inspired by guidance from New Song, whom I met again by ‘accident.’ With much teamwork, the first Perinatal Loss Support Group in Dignity East Valley took place March of 2017 and has continued to grow and provide empathy since.
I am originally from Washington State, but in 1994 my husband, Dennis, and I moved to Arizona where I went to Mesa Community College for my nursing degree while raising two boys, Quentin and Zackary. I obtained my RTS training and certification in 2012. I became certified through New Song as a support group facilitator in 2016. My heart is with the grieving parents and helping them in any way possible.
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Vicki Vanden Heuvel, BSN, RNC-MNN
Perinatal Bereavement Support, Maternal Child Health, Chandler Regional Medical Center- Family Support & Hospital Partnership/Education
As the Coordinator of the Perinatal Bereavement program at Chandler Regional Medical Center since 2002, I feel so blessed that I have been the chosen one to embrace and carry many families through some of the most difficult days that they will ever experience, the loss of a child. I am deeply honored to hold this very sacred position of helping heal the truly broken-hearted family and to gently guide them to wholeness. Each of these special, sacred little lives, though short, matter and I will continue to sing these little ones’ song until the day I am called home.
I received my BSN degree in Nursing in 1980 from Marian College of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. I became Certified as Bereavement Coordinator through RTS Bereavement Services, Inc. in 2000. I have been married to my husband Dean since 1980, and am fortunate to have three wonderful adult children, Kate, Matt, Sam and new grandma of baby Lia.
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