Candy McVicar

Candy’s daughter Grace was stillborn in 2001 due to a cord issue. Candy started Missing GRACE Organization in honor of Grace to help other families who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss. As Co-founder and Executive Director of Missing GRACE Foundation a 501(c)3, Candy facilitates GRACE Support Groups, provides direct care in MN hospitals for families at the time of a pregnancy or infant loss, and she manages all the Missing GRACE programs. In 2003, Candy began the work to pass a bill in Minnesota to help provide a certificate of birth for parents of a stillborn baby, who otherwise only received only a death certificate. In May 2005, after testifying in both House and Senate and gathering the support needed, the bill was passed unanimously and she was able to attend Governor Pawlenty’s signing of the bill into law. A national speaker and frequent guest on radio, Candy advocates for stillbirth prevention, compassionate health care and quality resources for bereaved, infertile and adoptive families. Thanks to Dr. Collins’ fetal monitoring and excellent care, her daughter Tatum, made a safe arrival into the world on 8-19-2005.
A2, E5, F6

Session Descriptions:

A2
Managing Pregnancy After Loss: Talk with couples that have had successful subsequent pregnancies under the care of Doctor Jason Collins’, MD, OB/GYN specialized home fetal monitoring program. Understand medical and emotional aspects of pregnancy after loss. Panel: Holly Emerson, Jason and Melissa Gemmell, Cameron Jensen, Steve and Candy McVicar, Gretchen Walstadt

E5
Support for the Parents During and After Loss: Build an effective system from the hospital to the home, ensuring that exceptional care for parents is provided before, during and after the delivery of a perinatal loss. Deborah Simmons, PhD, LMFT and Candy McVicar, Founder and Executive Director of Missing GRACE will help you match your care to individual needs of each grieving family.

F6
Pay It Forward: Take your Loss and Create Connections to Help Others: Candy and Steve McVicar, founders and co-directors of Missing GRACE Foundation share their journey through GRACE and offer ways to educate others regarding loss. Learn how to help politically with legislation regarding new standards of care and protocols for prevention of stillbirth, and to ensure that parents of a stillborn receive a birth certificate. Learn how to start a Hope and Hearts Run in your state, bringing greater awareness of stillbirth and the need for quality and timely grief resources.