Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Saizan Houston.
Hi Danielle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Angel Babies Matter Network was born from my own journey through pregnancy and infant loss and from the belief that no mother should have to walk that path alone.
In 2013, I experienced my first stillbirth, my baby girl Angel. Seven years later, I heard the same words again: “Sit up, Mrs. Houston… there’s no heartbeat.” Losing my daughter Imani felt like reliving a nightmare I never imagined returning to. Holding a second urn instead of my baby forced me to confront not only grief, but the fragile state of maternal mental health after loss. What carried me through was the support of my family, friends, and community, and it made me painfullyaware that many mothers do not have that kind of network, even as pregnancy loss affects millions of families nationwide each year. Pregnancy and infant loss is far more common than many realize. Nationally, approximately one in four women will experience pregnancy loss in their lifetime, and studies show that women who experience stillbirth are at significantly higher risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in the months and years that follow. In Texas, maternal mental health outcomes remain a growing concern, even within regions that have access to advanced medical systems.
I started Angel Babies Matter Network simply by wanting to offer comfort. I began assembling care packages on my own and reaching out to women to let them know they were not alone. What began as a personal act of compassion quickly became a collective effort. Community members showed up, donated supplies, and volunteered their time. Our first care-packing event brought together dozens of people to assemble hundreds of bags, and that moment affirmed that this work was bigger than me.
Since then, Angel Babies Matter Network has grown into a trusted community partner. We have collaborated with hospitals, bereavement committees, funeral homes, mental health professionals, and volunteer organizations to ensure families receive support during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Our work has been recognized by the City of Houston through a proclamation from former Mayor Sylvester Turner, as well as by the Texas House of Representatives under State Representative Alma Allen, affirmations that this mission matters not only to families, but to the broader community.
Today, Angel Babies Matter Network has donated approximately 2,000 care packages across more than 20 hospitals in Texas and Louisiana, facilitated grief support through partnerships with organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and hosted healing-centered events that create space for remembrance, advocacy, and connection. We continue to advocate for maternal mental health, proper postpartum care after loss, and workplace accommodations for grieving parents.
I am one of the mothers we serve, and that perspective grounds everything we do. Angel Babies Matter Network exists not because loss is rare or that we can’t stop loss from happening, but because it is far too common for moms to silence their pain. This reality is reflected statewide, as Texas continues to rank poorly in maternal and infant health outcomes and has received a “D” grade from the March of Dimes, underscoring the urgent need for community-based grief support and maternal mental health resources. While we cannot prevent loss, we exist to ensure that healing does not happen in isolation. We stand in the gap to affirm that angel babies matter and so do the mothers who carry them. In Texas, infant mortality and maternal health outcomes continue to reflect serious disparities. Despite having one of the largest medical systems in the world, Texas consistently ranks poorly on maternal and infant health indicators. Harris County, in particular, has experienced higher than national average maternal mortality rates, with Black mothers facing disproportionately higher risks. These realities underscore why community-based grief support and mental health advocacy are not optional, but necessary.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road, and some of the most difficult challenges have been emotional rather than logistical. One of the hardest parts has been learning how to tell my story over and over again. While sharing my experience helps other mothers, it is also my story, and revisiting it means reopening grief that never fully disappears. There were moments when I questioned whether I should even be sharing it at all, especially when I did not feel completely healed myself. I wrestled with whether I had the right to offer hope to others while still navigating my own grief journey.
What I came to understand is that healing does not mean being “over” loss. It means learning how to live alongside it. I am not offering a message that suggests you simply move on. Instead, I am walking alongside other mothers and saying we are on this journey together and you are not alone in it. Sharing my story has brought healing to me and has helped others feel seen, validated, and less isolated. It has also allowed space to talk openly about depression, anxiety, and the importance of mental health support after loss, and to remind mothers that grieving their baby is not their fault and can be done in a healthy and supported way.
From an organizational standpoint, building a nonprofit while prioritizing mental health has also come with challenges. Fundraising, planning events, and sustaining programs can be demanding, especially when the work itself is deeply personal. At the same time, it has been incredibly meaningful to see how many people are willing to support this mission, even if they have never experienced pregnancy or infant loss themselves. Volunteers show up, donors continue to give, and community partners lean in because they understand the importance of this work.
One of the most bittersweet challenges is hearing from hospitals when they are running low on care packages. While it is difficult knowing more mothers are experiencing loss, it also reinforces why this work matters. Receiving feedback that mothers felt loved, acknowledged, and supported after receiving a care package reminds me that Angel Babies Matter Network is meeting a real and necessary need, and that purpose continues to carry me forward even on the hard days.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Angel Babies Matter Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering mothers and families who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. We provide grief support, advocacy, and tangible resources to ensure that no mother has to navigate loss and healing in isolation.
What we are most known for is our compassionate, community-centered approach. Through hospital partnerships, we distribute thoughtfully curated care packages to grieving mothers at some of their most vulnerable moments. These packages are more than items; they are messages of love, validation, and remembrance, reminding families that their babies matter and that they are not alone.
What sets Angel Babies Matter Network apart is that our work is both lived and informed. I am one of the mothers we serve, and that perspective shapes every program, partnership, and point of advocacy. We are intentional about addressing maternal mental health alongside grief, offering support that acknowledges the emotional, psychological, and practical realities mothers face after loss. We are also the only pregnancy and infant loss grief support group in our area facilitated through training by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which allows us to connect families to healthy, peer-supported healing spaces. Research shows that a significant number of pregnancy-related deaths and mental health complications are preventable with early intervention, access to support, and community-based care. Yet many mothers leave hospitals after loss without follow-up mental health resources or acknowledgment of their grief. Angel Babies Matter Network exists to help close that gap by providing immediate comfort, peer-supported healing spaces, and advocacy that centers maternal mental health as a critical part of care.
In addition to direct support, we advocate for improved postpartum care after loss, workplace accommodations for grieving parents, and greater community awareness around pregnancy and infant loss. We collaborate closely with hospitals, mental health professionals, funeral homes, volunteer organizations, and donors to ensure families receive holistic support from the moment of loss through their healing journey.
What I am most proud of is the trust we have built within the community. Since launching, Angel Babies Matter Network has donated approximately 2,000 care packages across more than 20 hospitals in Texas and Louisiana, hosted healing and remembrance events, and received recognition from both the City of Houston and the Texas House of Representatives. Most importantly, we continue to hear directly from mothers who share that our support helped them feel seen, acknowledged, and cared for when they needed it most.
Angel Babies Matter Network exists because loss is more common than many realize, and support should never be optional. Our goal is simple and unwavering: to stand in the gap with compassion, advocacy, and connection so that no mother walks this journey alone.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memories are rooted in growing up in New Orleans and being surrounded by creativity, community, and encouragement.
One memory that stands out most is discovering my love for writing at a young age. I was in gifted classes and began writing poetry in elementary school. I took it seriously, entering competitions and performing, but what made it special was my mother’s belief in me. She helped me turn my poems into a book by having them printed, bound, and covered with my photo. I proudly sold and mailed copies myself, not fully realizing at the time that I was learning confidence, creativity, and entrepreneurship all at once. I even competed in a poetry competition in Florida, where the experience of traveling, meeting other young writers, and simply being encouraged stayed with me more than any award could have.
I also loved being part of the band and marching in parades, which is a big part of life in New Orleans. From middle school through high school, I played the baritone and trombone and proudly called myself a band head. Marching during parade season, traveling for competitions, and sharing music with students from other schools created a sense of connection and belonging that I still value today.
Looking back, my childhood was filled with learning, service, faith, and exposure to the world around me. My parents kept us active in school, church, and community, and that foundation shaped who I am today. I may not have one single favorite moment, but I am deeply grateful for a childhood that was rich in encouragement, opportunity, and love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ANGELBABIESMATTER.COM
- Instagram: https://INSTAGRAM.COM/ANGELBABIESMATTERNETWORK
- Facebook: https://FACEBOOK.COM/ANGELBABIESMATTER
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/angelbabiesmatternetwork
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AngelBabiesMatterNetwork
- Other: http://linktr.ee/angelbabiesmatter
