San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria Proclaims October 15 Pregnancy, Infant and Child Loss Remembrance Day

The City of San Diego recognizes families grieving the loss of children as Southern California communities unite for International Wave of Light.

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, October 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- In a significant recognition for families grieving the loss of a child, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has officially proclaimed October 15, 2026, as Pregnancy, Infant and Child Loss Remembrance Day in the City of San Diego.

The proclamation, requested by The Comfort Cub, a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, coincided with International Wave of Light, a global remembrance honoring babies and children who have died. Across Southern California, families gathered in La Jolla, Temecula and Victorville on October 15 to remember their children, share their stories and participate in a worldwide candle-lighting tribute.

“We are deeply honored and grateful that the Mayor of San Diego has recognized October 15th as Pregnancy, Infant and Child Loss Remembrance Day in our city,” said Marcella Johnson, founder of The Comfort Cub. “For The Comfort Cub Program, this recognition is about so much more than a proclamation—it is about acknowledging the profound grief of families who have experienced the loss of a baby and reminding them that their babies matter, their grief matters, and they are not alone. We hope this recognition will help break the silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss and bring greater compassion, awareness, and comfort to families throughout our community.”

The official proclamation recognizes Johnson, a San Diego resident who founded The Comfort Cub following the loss of her son, George, in 1999. It also acknowledges the organization's efforts to support families affected by pregnancy, infant and child loss through partnerships with hospitals, health care providers and community organizations throughout San Diego County.

In his proclamation, Mayor Gloria acknowledged the profound impact of pregnancy, infant and child loss and affirmed the city's solidarity with bereaved families.

Southern California Joins a Worldwide Wave of Remembrance:

On October 15, families across the world participated in International Wave of Light by lighting candles at 7 p.m. in their respective time zones, creating a continuous wave of light around the globe.

In San Diego, families gathered at Kellogg Park in La Jolla for the annual International Wave of Light observance. Empty Cradle, a nonprofit organization supporting families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss, served as an organizer and sponsor of the gathering, with The Comfort Cub participating as a co-sponsor. The Comfort Cub has supported International Wave of Light events since 2013, helping families honor and remember babies and children gone too soon.

Additional gatherings took place at Vail Ranch Headquarters in Temecula and Agape Christian Worship Center in Victorville, bringing together families to honor their children and find comfort through shared remembrance.

During the La Jolla observance, candles were arranged in the shape of a heart as families prepared to speak their children's names aloud.

“We put them in the shape of a heart and when the sun goes down ... we are going to stand around and we are going to say our children's name,” Johnson said during the gathering. “And to us, saying their name is like music to our ears.”

Breaking the Silence Surrounding Pregnancy, Infant and Child Loss:

For Alicia O'Neill, The Comfort Cub's Director of Partnerships and Global Wave of Light Ambassador, the observance carries deeply personal meaning. O'Neill helped bring the proclamation forward to the City of San Diego, drawing on her own experience as a mother who has lost a child.

O'Neill's son, Jordan Hart, was born in July 2019 at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital and died the same day. She received a Comfort Cub that same day and says she doesn't believe she could have left the hospital without it. Through her advocacy, she works to ensure that families experiencing similar losses feel supported and that their children's memories are honored.

“I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to bring this proclamation forward and see Pregnancy, Infant, and Child Loss Remembrance Day officially recognized here in San Diego,” said Alicia O'Neill, Director of Partnerships and Global Wave of Light Ambassador for The Comfort Cub. “When I first joined the Wave of Light, families had already been gathering for years to honor their babies gone too soon. Knowing there were families who had walked through this kind of loss before me, and that there was a place where I could stand alongside others who understood, made me feel less alone in my grief.”

For O'Neill, the annual observance provides something that everyday life often cannot: an opportunity to publicly honor Jordan alongside families who understand her loss.

“As a mom, I get to celebrate so many milestones with my living children, but I don't get those same opportunities with Jordan,” O'Neill said. “There's something incredibly meaningful about standing together with other families, without needing to find the right words, and simply getting to say our children's names. Having a day when we can acknowledge our babies beyond our immediate families and friends, and knowing our city recognizes their lives, truly touches my heart.”

The Comfort Cub hopes the recognition will encourage more open conversations about pregnancy, infant and child loss while reminding grieving families that their children will not be forgotten.

“When we speak our baby’s name, we affirm that their life mattered, their place in the family remains, and the love they inspired will never be forgotten,” Johnson said.

About The Comfort Cub

The Comfort Cub is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Marcella Johnson following the death of her infant son, George, in 1999. The organization provides specially designed, weighted therapeutic bears to individuals experiencing grief, loss and trauma. Through deep touch pressure, The Comfort Cub is intended to offer a comforting physical presence during difficult emotional experiences. The organization partners with hospitals, health care providers and community organizations to extend support to individuals and families in need.

For more information: www.thecomfortcub.org

Danica McAdam
McAdam PR
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