In November of 2000, Sarah Slack gave birth to her stillborn baby son, Jesse. It took her and her husband over a year to raise the money needed for Jesse's grave marker, but by then she had a mission. Sarah set out to make sure other parents grieving over the loss of an infant could have a marker of their own.

The TEARS Foundation was born of one woman's sorrow, and has eased the grief of hundreds of parents since then. Sarah is supported by a team of volunteers - many of whom also know the grief of losing a baby - but in many ways, she is on a one-woman mission to help bereaved parents. Since starting TEARS just a few short years ago, the foundation has continued to grow, serving over 150 families in 2009 alone. How many parents, when expecting a baby, plan for burial costs? When parents can't afford funeral costs for their infants, Sarah is there to help. And when the funeral is over, she is there to help pick up the emotional pieces, as well.

Sarah Slack is a hero to me and many other parents who know the value of honoring their babies' memories, showing the world that they were on this planet for a brief shining moment, and will be remembered for a lifetime.