Sanford Hospital Provided Keepsakes for Infant Loss
Nurses at the Fargo hospital offer handprint and footprint mementos during Infant Loss Awareness Month.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Babies
Throughout October, staff at Sanford Hospital in Fargo have provided grieving parents with handprints and footprints as memorial keepsakes. The initiative coincides with the annual recognition of Infant Loss Awareness Month.
Why it matters
Providing these physical mementos serves as a vital component of bereavement support for families experiencing the loss of an infant. This practice offers parents tangible connections to their children during the grieving process.
The CDC reports approximately 21,000 stillbirths occur annually across the United States. Infant Loss Awareness Month was first established in 1988.
The players
Sanford Hospital
This Fargo-based healthcare facility provides medical services and bereavement support to the local community.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The national public health agency tracks and reports annual statistics on stillbirths across the United States.
The details
Nurses at Sanford Hospital proactively create and distribute these memorial items to support families navigating infant loss. These handprints and footprints provide a lasting, physical tribute for parents during a difficult time.
Timeline
Infant Loss Awareness Month was first established in 1988.
October serves as the annual month for Infant Loss Awareness.
Culture Shift
The 1988 establishment of Infant Loss Awareness Month signaled a major cultural shift toward normalizing bereavement support for pregnancy and infant loss. This hospital program reflects the ongoing societal trend of prioritizing compassionate care for grieving families.
Families in Fargo dealing with pregnancy or infant loss can coordinate with nursing staff at Sanford Hospital to receive these memorial keepsakes. This support service is available throughout the month of October to assist those navigating bereavement.
The takeaway
Recognizing the importance of memorializing a lost infant is a crucial step in the grieving process for many families. These small, tangible mementos provide comfort and a lasting legacy for those navigating such profound loss.
Further reading
Learn more about the resources available to families by visiting the Babies section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by INFORUM.
