Our Mission
To improve outcomes of pregnancy, childbirth, prematurity, and infancy, as well as aid grieving families through financial assistance, education, and advocacy.
What We Do
- Provide financial assistance to families dealing with high-risk or complicated pregnancies, NICU stays, or loss
- Advocate for institutional change to make outcomes and experiences better for families
- Educate on topics related to pregnancy, NICU, loss, grief, parenting after loss, infertility, and more
The Impact of Our Work
Giving the Gift of Time
Taking an Active Role
Making a Difference
Breaking Taboos
The Problems Nationwide
☛ About 1 in 5 pregnancies in the U.S. have some sort of activity restriction
☛ Only 50 to 60% of these orders are strictly followed by patients
☛ About 1 in 10 babies in the United States go to The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
☛ More than 70% of NICU families report financial strain and are 50% more likely to experience long-term financial stress
☛ Approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss
☛ About 30% of families with pregnancy or infant loss report financial difficulty and survivors are 50% more likely to experience long-term financial strain
Families We Help
☛ On average, our families are experiencing a decrease of $8,000 from the previous year due to their current situation
☛ For NICU families, they are traveling an average of 93 miles one way to see their babies
☛ Families seeking help are carrying an average debt of $2,800
☛ Our average famaily has a 101 day stay in the NICU
Solutions Provided and Outcomes Reached
☛ Financial assistance to help pregnant persons get to prenatal visits
☛ Financial assistance to help pregnant persons to follow medical guidelines and orders
☛ Financial assistance to allow parents to visit their babies
☛ Financial assistance so that postpartum parents can recover
☛ Financial assistance so parents who lose a baby can afford funeral expenses
☛ Financial assistance so parents can grieve
☛ Over 80% of our families report that the help they received either had a significant impact or was life-changing
Financial Assistance
For further information or to apply, please visit our Get Help pages.
We need YOU
Our Leadership Team
A self-described recovering attorney, Michelle graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 2006.
She worked in nonprofits representing victims of domestic violence and in family law before earning a master’s degree in nonprofit management, where she met her husband, Mark.
After Colette’s journey, they founded The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation to enhance outcomes in pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care. The foundation provides financial aid and advocacy for families facing high-risk pregnancies, NICU challenges, and loss.
As a writer and speaker, Michelle addresses topics like infertility, pregnancy loss, and parenting after loss, aiming to remove stigma and foster conversation. She advocates for maternal and infant health, reflecting her commitment to equal access for all families.
Residing in Glenview, Illinois, Michelle lives with her son Elliott and husband Mark, striving to create a supportive environment for all families.