Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Lewis.
Hi Haley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey with Share Parents of Utah began the day I lost my daughter, Astrid. She was a twin, and at 16 weeks gestation we learned she had a rare and fatal chromosomal condition called Triploidy. Astrid passed at 26 weeks, and both she and her twin were delivered together at 37 weeks. Holding her—tiny, still, and beautiful—was a moment that forever reshaped my life.
After her passing, I searched for a community that understood the depth of grief that comes with losing a baby. That search eventually brought me to Share Parents of Utah, a place where families who had walked this same heartbreaking path supported one another with compassion and understanding.
Two years after losing Astrid, I felt called to help other families navigate the experience I knew so well. I began volunteering through Share’s social media outreach, using storytelling, education, and connection to support grieving families. I was soon asked to lead the social media team, and shortly after, invited to join the board of directors. Each new role deepened my commitment to this mission.
Education has always been central to the work I do. For the past 10 years, I’ve focused on sharing knowledge in ways that empower others, and I was honored to receive the 30 Under 30 Award in Leadership for Learning and Development. Knowing how to communicate effectively and share information thoughtfully can make a profound difference—helping families feel seen, heard, and supported in the hardest moments of their lives. This expertise informs everything we do at Share, from hospital programs to community outreach.
As I became more involved, I saw firsthand how great the need is. Utah has one of the highest rates of pregnancy and infant loss—not because more babies are born here, but because bereavement care varies widely between hospitals. There is currently no requirement for pregnancy and infant loss bereavement care or training, leaving families without the guidance they need at the most critical times.
That gap fuels our advocacy work today. Share Parents of Utah is actively seeking a legislative representative to help us carry a bill requiring Utah hospitals to provide standardized bereavement care and the training necessary to support families experiencing loss. We know this change has the potential to transform outcomes for thousands of families.
Beginning in 2026, I am honored to step into the role of President of Share Parents of Utah. Our focus is to expand the number of hospitals we serve, strengthen and streamline our existing programs, and grow quickly so no family goes without early, compassionate support.
Share Parents of Utah provides completely free in-hospital bereavement care, including hand, foot, and face molds; burial clothing; memory items; photographs; and gentle, informed guidance. We are the only nonprofit in Utah offering face molds, giving families a deeply meaningful keepsake in the moments they often have so little time. Beyond the hospital, we host free support groups in Salt Lake and Utah Counties and hold an annual remembrance walk near the Wave of Light each October.
My story began in grief, but it has grown into purpose. Everything I do with Share is for Astrid, for her twin, and for every family who deserves compassionate care, informed support, and someone walking beside them from the very beginning of their loss.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road for Share Parents of Utah has never been easy. For the past year, we have been actively seeking a legislative representative to help us pass a bill requiring hospitals to provide pregnancy and infant loss bereavement care and the accompanying training. It’s a slow and challenging process—getting our name out, building relationships, and convincing hospitals that they want this training is not simple. Even when hospitals are open to training, finding the time for staff to participate is a hurdle, and we receive no financial support from the hospitals for this work.
Funding is another constant challenge. Most of our donations come from the families we serve, which is both humbling and incredibly difficult. Grants and large donors are essential for sustainability, and we continue to actively seek these opportunities. To put it in perspective, one hospital visit costs roughly $150, and a single support group session costs $250. Volunteer turnover is also a reality—many of our volunteers are loss parents themselves, balancing their grief with the desire to help others, which can understandably lead to burnout.
Perhaps the hardest part is helping others understand the importance of what we do. If someone has never experienced the loss of a baby, it can be difficult to grasp why every hand mold, every memory item, and every compassionate interaction matters so profoundly. But for families in the hospital, these small acts make an enormous difference—they help parents feel seen, heard, and supported in the most heartbreaking moments of their lives.
Despite these challenges, our impact continues to grow. In 2024 alone, Share Parents of Utah served 119 families in hospitals, providing hand, foot, and face molds, burial clothing, memory items, and compassionate support—all completely free. The cost of delivering this care would have totaled $17,850, yet we provided it at no charge. Our annual remembrance walk also remains a cornerstone of community support, drawing 1,500 attendees in 2024 and costing roughly $10,000 to host. In 2025, we are on track to serve a similar number of families, maintaining the same high standard of care and remembrance.
Historically, the number of families we serve each year has ranged from 80 to 120, showing steady growth and the ongoing need for support. Every hand we hold, every keepsake we create, and every group we host is made possible through donations from the families we serve, volunteers who pour their hearts into this work, and the tireless dedication of our team.
Providing these services free of charge, while navigating funding challenges, volunteer turnover, and advocacy efforts, underscores both the magnitude of the need and the commitment of Share Parents of Utah to every family facing the unimaginable.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I began my professional career at 18 in property maintenance, where I quickly identified a need for a structured training program within the company I was working for. Taking initiative, I built, developed, and implemented that training program, which sparked my interest in instructional design. A mentor at the time encouraged me to pursue formal education in this field, and I earned my Instructional Design Certificate from the University of Utah in 2020, all while navigating a challenging personal journey with infertility.
After three years of trying, my husband and I conceived twins via IUI in March 2021—a procedure that had only a 1% chance of success. Tragically, we later learned about Astrid’s condition, and she passed away. Following that loss, I decided to make a professional change, leaving a company I had worked for seven years to start fresh in a role that was not tied to my recent personal experience.
I joined Sky Zone Trampoline Park in their remote call center, starting completely over and temporarily stepping away from my instructional design expertise. Within a year, I was promoted to Training and Quality Assurance Supervisor, where I built the call center training program from the ground up. Through implementing structured onboarding, ongoing coaching, and performance monitoring, I helped increase sales from 20% year-over-year growth to 35% year-over-year growth, demonstrating tangible results from my leadership and learning strategies.
Simultaneously, I began volunteering with Share Parents of Utah, dedicating myself to supporting families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. Within 10 months, I was promoted to Social Media Lead, and just one month later, I was asked to join the board of directors. In May 2025, after spearheading the organization’s most successful silent auction Gala fundraiser, I was honored to be asked to serve as President of Share Parents of Utah. That same month, I was notified that I would receive the 30 Under 30 Award in Leadership of Learning and Development from the Learners Guild in October 2025, recognizing my professional accomplishments in learning and development.
Throughout my career, I have blended instructional design expertise, leadership, and strategic program development to create meaningful impact—whether increasing organizational performance, building training programs from scratch, or leading teams and initiatives that directly serve communities in need. My journey reflects a commitment to learning, adaptability, and leadership, driven by both professional excellence and personal purpose.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have been incredibly fortunate to have mentors, supporters, and teammates who have played critical roles in both my personal and professional journey. Early in my career, a mentor at the property maintenance company where I started recognized my initiative in developing a training program and suggested I explore instructional design. That guidance shaped the trajectory of my career and inspired me to pursue my Instructional Design Certificate from the University of Utah.
Throughout my professional growth, I’ve also relied on the support of my colleagues and teams. At Sky Zone, my teammates and direct reports were instrumental in helping me build the call center training program from the ground up and implement strategies that increased sales year over year. Their willingness to embrace new processes, provide feedback, and support one another was crucial to our success.
In my work with Share Parents of Utah, I’ve been supported by an incredible network of volunteers, board members, and other leaders in the organization. Their dedication, insight, and encouragement have allowed me to step into leadership roles and expand our impact. From helping organize our largest fundraiser to advocating for better hospital bereavement care, these individuals have been mentors, cheerleaders, and collaborators every step of the way.
Finally, my family—especially my husband—has been an unwavering source of strength. Navigating infertility, personal loss, and a growing professional career would not have been possible without his support, encouragement, and partnership.
Success is never achieved alone. I’m grateful for every mentor, teammate, volunteer, and family member who has contributed to my journey and the growth of the organizations I serve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sputah.org
- Instagram: @shareparentsofutah
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/haley-lewis-9884b01b8
