About Us

History of AMEND 

The Florida Chapter of AMEND, Inc. 501(c)3 is Tampa Bay's longest running Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Group.
It was founded in 1978 by Dottie Cannon & Karen Frazier who met after the loss of their baby girls. Their meeting led to a community wide blessing of monthly support groups and in-hospital visits to loss parents. After reading about AMEND as a national organization that helps parents with such loss, the two women formed what is now the Florida Chapter of AMEND, Inc. in 1996. Their hard work and dedication has created an invaluable support system for countless couples. AMEND of Tampa and St. Pete is currently ran by fellow loss parents that selflessly volunteer their time as this very support group was vital to their healing. 

AMEND stands for Aiding a Mother/Father Experiencing Neonatal Death

Meet the Leaders

Tampa In person Leaders: Jaci & David (Zion's parents) 

Jaci and David have been leading AMEND meetings since 2022 and currently lead the Tampa group. Their desire to support families navigating pregnancy loss comes from both their personal experience with loss and Jaci’s professional training as a Master of Social Work. As a mental health therapist (RCSWI) specializing in pregnancy loss, Jaci brings both clinical knowledge and the understanding that comes from walking this path herself. 

After experiencing infertility and needing reproductive assistance to conceive, Jaci and David lost their first son, Zion, to a cord accident, at 36 weeks after an otherwise healthy pregnancy. In the midst of unimaginable grief, support groups became a lifeline. Being surrounded by people who understood the depth and complexity of grief, and could hold space for their pain without judgement, gave them a place to process the wide range of emotions that came with loss. 

David’s role as a co-leader is rooted in his belief that fathers’ grief deserves recognition, support, and space to be expressed. While fathers’ grief can sometimes be overlooked, at AMEND they are recognized as grieving parents whose stories and experiences matter.


Jaci and David believe that grief is not something we “get over,” but something we learn to integrate into our lives. Grief deserves a place in our lives because it is a reflection of the love we have for our babies. Facing grief can feel daunting, and each person approaches it in their own time. While there is no right way to grieve, many parents discover that the path through grief involves making space for it. Jaci & David believe this means not leaving our babies behind, but learning how to carry them with us as we move forward.


Their journey also includes welcoming their rainbow baby, while continuing to carry Zion’s memory and the love they have for him. 


Outside of AMEND, Jaci also co-leads an infertility support group through RESOLVE.

St Pete In Person Leader: Aidan (Ezra's mama)

Aidan Rose is a peer grief counselor, bereaved mother, and devoted pregnancy and infant loss advocate. Aidan believes the goal of grief support is not to fix broken hearts, but to create a place where parents never have to hide them.

After the loss of her stillborn son, Ezra, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Aidan found that the light at the end of the grief tunnel seemed to wane as time passed. Phone calls became fewer and farther between, and life began to resume some sense of normalcy. In the midst of worldwide isolation, she began searching for the kind of support that doesn’t end after the funeral. That search eventually became a calling to walk alongside other bereaved parents.

Like many other mothers with empty arms, she remained in the depths of postpartum—her body fully responsive, but with no baby to care for. Inspired by the bereavement box she received from the hospital, filled with meaningful resources and gifts, she created Ever After Ezra in memory of her son.

What began as a simple offering—a box of “Earth Mama Angel Baby: No More Milk Tea” to ease the painful reminder of engorgement and a Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness sticker—soon evolved into personalized “Ever After Ezra” Butterfly Boxes. These boxes, meant to arrive after the world has seemingly moved on, serve as a reminder that each pregnancy and each baby will always be remembered.

Her work in peer grief coaching and support formally began in 2022 at Community Roots Collective in Tampa, Florida. She embraced the opportunity to co-chair the Full Cycle Loss Group and quickly became a board member for the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Walk, an event that brought awareness to Downtown Tampa for over seven years. Through this work, she found purpose in navigating life with profound loss. During this time, she also dedicated herself to researching and learning about the many stages and causes of pregnancy and infant loss, grief theories, alternative healing modalities, and the importance of community support following loss.

With a background as a birth and bereavement doula, along with her lived experience of losing her full-term son, Aidan brings a deep sense of empathy to her work. She is passionate about creating spaces where parents can speak openly about their babies, explore their grief, hope for the future, and process the complex emotions that follow loss—without fear of judgment or expectation.

As the incoming facilitator of the AMEND St. Pete Pregnancy Loss Support Group, Aidan leads with empathy, authenticity, and hope. Her approach is rooted in the simple yet powerful act of holding space—meeting each person exactly where they are and recognizing that there is no “right” way to grieve. While many stories may share common threads, each experience is unique and offers invaluable insight and support for those navigating grief.

When she isn’t facilitating support groups, Aidan is dedicated to pregnancy and infant loss advocacy, supporting bereaved families, and building stronger communities through connection, remembrance, and compassionate peer support. Her hobbies include spending time with loved ones, photography, cheesemongering, staycations, and anything near the water.

Virtual Leader: Stephanie (Sebastian's mama)

Stephanie Castro is a bereaved mother, peer grief supporter, and advocate for families navigating pregnancy and infant loss. She believes that while grief cannot be fixed, no parent should have to walk through it alone. Her goal is to create a compassionate space where parents feel safe sharing their stories, honoring their babies, and finding connection with others who truly understand.

Stephanie’s journey into grief support began after the heartbreaking loss of her firstborn son at 40 weeks and 1 day on November 21, 2021, following what had been a healthy pregnancy. As she navigated the overwhelming loneliness that often follows the initial outpouring of support, she discovered the healing power of connecting with other bereaved parents who understood the lifelong impact of child loss. That experience inspired her to help ensure no family has to grieve in isolation.

With a decade-long career in retail banking, Stephanie has spent years building relationships and supporting people through life’s challenges. Combined with her personal experience of profound loss, she brings empathy, authenticity, and a compassionate listening ear to every support group she leads.

As the Virtual Support Group Facilitator for AMEND, Stephanie is honored to walk alongside bereaved parents wherever they are in their grief journey. She believes there is no right way to grieve and that every baby’s life deserves to be remembered. Through connection, understanding, and shared experience, she hopes every parent leaves feeling seen, supported, and less alone.

Outside of AMEND, Stephanie enjoys crafting, baking, and has recently discovered a passion for running. She cherishes time with her family and is committed to helping build a community where remembrance, hope, and healing can coexist.

Parenting & Pregnancy After Loss Leader: Heather (Isla's mama)

Bio coming soon!