The third annual You Are My Angel Maternal Wellness Event, hosted this year at the I.T. Parker Community Center in Dania Beach, brought together fertility and maternal health advocates, healthcare professionals, families, and community members for an evening dedicated to infertility awareness, pregnancy and infant loss, reproductive mental health, and most important of all, healing.
Hosted by Dr. Marline C. Duroseau, a fertility and women’s health advocate as well as TEDx speaker and author, the event was originally created to help honor those whose lives were tragically cut short, including Dr. Marline’s own daughter Angel Grace, and the pain felt by those left behind. Now, through her 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Angel Grace Foundation, individuals and families navigating their reproductive and maternal health journeys have a safe space for meaningful connection and education.
The night was also held in recognition of both Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, highlighting its commitment to messages of compassion and community. Dr. Marline opened the program with a special welcome and moment of reflection, setting the evening’s tone before Dania Beach Commissioner Luis Rimoli delivered special community remarks. A central component of the program was its keynote presentations, beginning with Understanding Your Family-Building Options led by Zoran J. Pavlovic, M.D., of IVF Florida. Board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and board-eligible in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Dr. Pavlovic’s presentation addressed important considerations for individuals and couples exploring their reproductive options, with his segment touching upon when to seek fertility support, fertility evaluations, available treatments, preparation for fertility care and ways to become informed participants in reproductive health decisions.
The presentation was followed by a Moderated Fertility & Family-Building Q&A, providing attendees with an opportunity to explore common questions about fertility care, in vitro fertilization (IVF), treatment preparation and the range of options available to those pursuing parenthood. The Q&A was led and moderated by Nava Dimer, who holds a verified certificate in Bioethics: The Law, Medicine, and Ethics of Reproductive Technologies and Genetics from HarvardX. The Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer and Director of Reproductive Bioethics for Rader Law Group and its IVF Law Group division, Dimer brought to the conversation powerful experience across patient advocacy, reproductive technologies, and the legal, medical and ethical considerations surrounding fertility care.
Featured at this year’s event were also opportunities for attendees to connect with organizations offering maternal health information, fertility resources and community support. Representatives from the Southern Birth Justice Network attended with their mobile unit bus, providing additional opportunities to learn about maternal wellness, birth justice, informed care, and support throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the broader maternal health journey.
The night also emphasized that reproductive health extends beyond medical treatment, with emotional well-being and mental health being an essential aspect. Naomi Rosenkranz, M.S., M.S.ED, PMH-C, led the keynote session Grief, Healing & Reproductive Mental Health. She showcased her years of experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and certified mental health provider through the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, discussing in detail how mental wellbeing intersects with infertility, pregnancy after loss, birth trauma, and the need for ongoing support throughout one’s family-building journey.
In addition to inspirational speakers and panels, this year’s ‘You Are My Angel Maternal Wellness Event’ held a special Remembrance Ceremony that featured the release of stunning butterflies, symbolizing both loss and the beauty in moving forward without forgetting the past. The night also made room for perspectives that are sometimes overlooked in conversations about reproductive loss, including the experiences of fathers and the ways families carry a child’s memory forward. Speaker Donnie Milton led Fireside Conversation: A Father’s Perspective, exploring his experience of losing a child, the effects of grief on families, resilience and the importance of creating supportive spaces where men can safely process loss and access emotional support.
Dr. Duroseau and speaker Chavalia Mwamba then led Fireside Conversation: Love, Loss & Legacy. This personal conversation focused on motherhood, loss, remembrance and how Mwamba and her family have created a meaningful legacy in honor of her son, Kenji. Together, the conversations highlighted the many ways families experience grief and the importance of honoring each individual’s journey while building lasting connections through love, remembrance, and shared support. There were also resources available from IVF FL, Cured Heart Candles, Southern Birth Justice Network, MCD Business Enterprise, and Filling Empty Wombs. Brits Boards LLC provided a specialty charcuterie display and bites for guests, while Sirvin Delights provided natural wellness juices and teas for a soothing evening.
Additionally, Tony Barreau & The Echelon Firm production team as well as Nerilanda Destave with Neri Events assisted in bringing the night’s vibrancy to life. The night concluded with special gift bags for each attendee, featuring products from event supporters including Pink Mahogany, Tropical Skyn, Skin Leaf Cosmetics, Black Bow Gift Co., Mom Daily Ideas, Harbor House Living, The Fertility Class, Navigating Parenthood, Marigold Life, Bold & Bloom, Violet & Ivy Wellness Co., Herplum, Olive & Sage Wellness, Perseve Hair, ERIA, The Baby Fairy Shoppe, Kerstin Tracy, The Continental DRIFTER, Giftada, IceCream Sunscreen, Vivoo, Hoopsy, Rader Law Group/IVF Law Group, CARS (Car Accident Referral Services) LLC, and Florida Complete Wellness Inc. “At its core, You Are My Angel was built around a message that success is not defined solely by a medical outcome or a particular path to parenthood,” said Dr. Marline. “It can also mean finding the courage to ask for help, discovering the information needed to make informed decisions, feeling understood during a difficult experience, or discovering a community that makes the weight of grief less isolating.”
“When I experienced my own loss, I felt helpless, and I had no idea where I could turn. That inspired me to become an advocate- I wanted people to feel that they weren’t alone in their trauma, and that so many of us have gone through similar struggles while fighting back against social stigmas. I am truly proud of what we have accomplished over these past few years, and the responses I have received remind me why events like this are so important in our healing journeys.”
As awareness efforts continue throughout October and beyond, this year’s gathering’s central message remains relevant: every family’s journey is different, every loss deserves compassion, and access to information and support can only help people navigate even the most difficult chapters of their lives. To learn more about Angel’s Grace Foundation and Dr. Marline’s work, visit https://www.
