NICU Nurse to Run Race to Honor Deceased Infants
A Kansas City nurse will wear bracelets for hundreds of infants during Saturday's half marathon to support grieving families.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Babies
This Saturday, October 17, 2026, NICU nurse Chaela Kizer will run the Garmin Kansas City half marathon while wearing a vest adorned with bracelets for hundreds of infants. She is participating in the 13.1-mile race to honor the memory of her son, Sawyer McClung, who died from SIDS at 83 days old.
Why it matters
The initiative offers families of infants who died in miscarriage or infancy a way to memorialize their children. Through this effort, a local healthcare worker brings visibility to the grieving process experienced by bereaved parents.
This effort involves the participation of a single runner carrying hundreds of individual memorials during a 13.1-mile race. The specific total of infants represented remains an evolving count as the runner collects names.
The players
Chaela Kizer
A NICU nurse at Saint Luke's who supports grieving families by memorializing infants during endurance events.
Saint Luke's
A health system providing specialized neonatal intensive care services in the region.
The details
Kizer, a nurse at Saint Luke's, hand-creates individual bracelets for each child. She attaches these to a vest that she wears for the duration of the 13.1-mile Garmin Kansas City half marathon. After completing the course, Kizer plans to mail each bracelet to the respective family as a keepsake.
Timeline
October 15, 2025: Sawyer McClung died from SIDS.
October 17, 2026: Garmin Kansas City half marathon race day.
Health Landscape
Memorializing lost children through physical movement has become a common way for parents and caregivers to process complex grief. This initiative follows the pattern set by the practice of memorial runs for grief support to provide comfort to bereaved families.
For parents managing grief after the loss of an infant, finding community-based memorial outlets can be a supportive step in the healing process. Those seeking professional guidance on navigating infant loss are encouraged to speak with a clinician at their primary care or mental health office.
The takeaway
Honoring a lost child through a dedicated activity can serve as a meaningful step in a family's bereavement journey. Those experiencing grief after the loss of an infant should discuss available counseling and local support groups with their physician.
Further reading
Learn more about local resources for families at Kansas City Babies.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSHB 41 Kansas City News.
