
For 15 years, this program has offered free, individualized support to families grieving the loss of a child. Now, it is dedicated to doing more in its new space.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Riley Grief Services opened its doors to supporters past and present during a special welcome Tuesday night.
Everyone in the room carried their own stories of grief, most hidden from view, but some more public.
Whether it was the young mom whose baby girl died last year, the parents whose 3-year-old son died of leukemia a decade ago, or the program speaker whose child passed more than 30 years ago – grief unites them.

So does their mission to advance the work of Riley Grief Services, which is celebrating its 15th year with the dedication of an expanded, remodeled space for families to find comfort and support.
“I want to thank the families we serve. They have trusted us when their world has been shattered,” said program manager Elizabeth Boring in her remarks to the crowd.
“Often, people assume I have the saddest job in the world, but the truth is, I get to witness profound love every single day,” she added. “Love is joyful and painful and full of moments that take our breath away, but most of all, love is eternal and transcends time and place. It is the honor of a lifetime to walk alongside each of you.”
Riley Grief Services began in 2009 as Hope in Healing, thanks in large part to the actions and advocacy of the neonatology team at Riley, especially Dr. Jayme Allen, who learned from her earliest days at Riley 23 years ago that bereaved families need and deserve extra support.

“To all the bereaved families here tonight, you put real faces on our mission,” she said, adding that Dr. Jim Lemons (who was on hand, as were retired neonatologists Drs. David Boyle, William Engle and Richard Schreiner) taught her something she would never forget: Once a Riley family, always a Riley family.
“I was part of a team in the NICU that wrapped their arms around families in every way possible for days, or weeks or months, and I was proud,” Dr. Allen said.
But after supporting families through loss, she worried who would help them navigate the days and months ahead.
“In 2009, thanks to the leadership of Dr. Rich Schreiner, Department of Pediatrics chairman at the time, and the generosity of Women for Riley, we made a commitment to grieving families, and at the core of that commitment was our mission – to provide free, comprehensive, individualized grief support to families grieving the loss of a child,” Dr. Allen said.
Since that time, the program, which has been supported by Riley and IU Health leadership, Women for Riley, Riley Children’s Foundation and countless private donors, has helped more than 3,000 Riley families. It is recognized nationally for its pre-eminent standard of care in the area of perinatal and pediatric grief services.
Lee Neff of Women for Riley was among the program’s earliest and most ardent champions, Boring said. Neff and her husband, Matt, lost a child 30-plus years ago.
“Their support has been instrumental in the formation and continuation of grief support at Riley,” Boring said.

Riley Grief Services, located at 6640 Intech Blvd. on the northwest side of Indianapolis, offers individual counseling sessions, support groups, retreats, art therapy and special events throughout the year. Since the pandemic, many of the programs have been made available virtually, which means more people throughout the state can participate.
Shayla and Brandon Roush and their family are among those people who have benefited from the Riley Children’s Health grief support team, and they are giving back through a foundation named for their daughter Flynn, who passed away in 2023 at IU Health North Hospital.

Among the contributions on display Tuesday night was a large bookcase handcrafted by Shayla Roush’s dad, Dave Hinchman, housing dozens of books on grief for kids and adults. In an adjacent art therapy room, the Roushes’ daughter Olivia was making butterflies with her uncle, Grady Hinchman.

“It’s awesome that we can have all of these resources available for grieving families, not just moms and dads, but kids,” said Roush, whose daughter continues art therapy sessions remotely.
“It’s nice to have a space where I can talk about Flynn and know I’m not going to get judgment,” she said, adding that program coordinator Cassie Dobbs helped guide her through the feelings that come with grief.
“I honestly don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t found it.”
For Dobbs, who has been with the program for several years, the dedication was a chance to demonstrate how important grief services are to Riley families.
“Sometimes we can be kind of a hidden program at Riley, so it’s nice to be seen and have our families be seen and share how important it is for us to be able to provide all kinds of services in this space,” she said.
Molly Belling, who founded Peyton’s Promise with her husband in honor of their late son Peyton, presented a large donation to Riley Grief Services after the open house ended and recalled how crucial the program was to her family’s healing.
“From our first interaction with this amazing team, we knew that they were special. We knew that they were uniquely equipped to help people facing their worst nightmare in a way others couldn’t,” she said. “It’s an honor to be a small part of the expansion of Riley Grief Services.”
Eric and Molly Belling named their youngest daughter Riley in a nod to their love for the hospital.