My name is Monica Borgatti and I have no living children. Professionally, I am the Chief Operating Officer for the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusettswhere we work toward gender equity by empowering the lives of women and girls in Western Massachusettsand beyond. I earned a BA in liberal studies and an MS in nonprofit management from Bay Path University. I have over a decade of experience working in the nonprofit sector and am honored to put my experience to work on the board of Empty Arms.
Personally, I had struggled with infertility and recurrent miscarriage for years before learning the pain of infant loss. In April 2014, my life was changed dramatically. My daughter Josie Danielle was born prematurely. She lived in the NICU for 18 short hours and was brought to my hospital room where I said hello and goodbye to her as she took her last breaths in my arms.
My first experience with Empty Arms was several weeks after Josie’s death. I attended bereavement support group meetings where I found comfort in knowing that I was not alone in my journey of loss. At different points, I also attended the miscarriage and subsequent choices support groups. When I learned that Empty Arms had a peer companion program, I immediately knew that I needed to be a part of it. I remember how alone I felt at first and I knew that I was supposed to help other families feel less alone when they’ve experienced loss.
I am honored to be a part of the Empty Arms community and watching my daughter Josie’s life purpose unfold through this experience fills my heart in ways I never expected possible.