Each year on October 15, families around the world take part in the Wave of Light, a global remembrance event honoring babies lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death. Beginning at 7 p.m. local time, participants light candles and keep them burning for one hour, creating a continuous “wave of light” that moves across time zones, symbolizing unity, love, and remembrance.

The Wave of Light is part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, founded to bring awareness to the heartbreak so many families silently endure. For many parents, it’s a sacred time to pause, reflect, and say their baby’s name — to acknowledge a life that, however brief, mattered deeply.

Many hospitals, like TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center, often host candlelight ceremonies, offering comfort and connection to grieving families. 

TriStar NorthCrest hosted its third annual Wave of Light Ceremony, bringing families together for a heartfelt evening of remembrance and reflection. The event took place on the front lawn as the sun was setting and a live harpist was playing, creating a peaceful and comforting space for those honoring infants lost too soon.

The ceremony began with compassion as Chaplain and Pastor Dan Pratt opened the ceremony with an invocation, sharing a personal story and reflecting on his book “Tears on the Church House Floor”. His words, “our relationship in this life was not to be; however, eternity awaits us,” reminded everyone that while loss leaves an unfillable space, faith and love create an everlasting connection.

The evening also included guest speaker Christine Lunger, Chief Nursing Officer at TriStar NorthCrest, who courageously shared her own experience with loss. Her message of encouragement for all the families- “This loss only deepens our capacity for love,” capturing the spirit of the night, that even through grief, love remains and grows stronger.

As the candles were lit at 7 p.m., a gentle glow filled the space, joining countless others around the world for the global Wave of Light. It was a moving reminder that while these little lives were brief, their light continues to shine brightly in the hearts of those who remember them.