COVINGTON – More than 200 people gathered Saturday, Sept. 19, for St. Tammany Health System’s inaugural Walking with Angels: A Walk of Remembrance, held in memory of pediatric losses throughout the community – and which saw family members and friends walking alongside others who have experienced the loss of a child through stillbirth, miscarriage or death after infancy.
“Today is about remembrance, connection and support. We recognize that every story is different, but each of you shares something that connects your hearts to one another,” said Joan Coffman, president and CEO of St. Tammany Health System. “As we walk together and reflect, we honor these little ones and we honor the families who carry their memory forward every day.”
St. Tammany Health System Bereavement Nurse Navigator Kristi Lamarque-Bordelon added: “This walk is about more than walking a path. It is about building a community – a community where families don’t have to grieve in silence. Look around you. This is your community.”
Dana Trahan, spiritual care coordinator and chaplain at St. Tammany Health System, reiterated the significance of community and encouraged everyone in attendance to say their child’s name in remembrance, either aloud or in their hearts. He then offered a prayer and led the crowd in a butterfly release before participants embarked on a walking path lined with signs bearing the names of children being honored.
Notable guests included Louisiana State Sen. Patrick McMath, co-author with Lamarque-Bordelon of the recently enacted Angel’s Law, and Louisiana State Rep. Kim Carver, who played a key role in advancing the landmark legislation through the state House of Representatives during the 2026 legislative session.
The law, which grew from Lamarque-Bordelon’s own experience with the loss of a child as well as her work with bereaved families, ensures that hospitals with maternity units or neonatal intensive care units have access to specialized cooling devices that allow families to spend unhurried time with their baby if they choose. It also promotes education for healthcare professionals on compassionate communication and support practices, while helping connect parents with grief counseling, support groups and community resources.
Those practices are already in place at St. Tammany Health System. Now, patients throughout Louisiana will have access to the same level of compassionate care.
Walking with Angels was sponsored by Sen. McMath; Gary Agena, MD; AIM Technologies; Lamarque Automotive Complex; Chip Lavigne; Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency; Liz and Dunbar Healy; Lacombe Art Guild; Heidi St. James; and St. Tammany Health Foundation.
Proceeds will support the bereavement program at St. Tammany Health System and its future expansion. Information about bereavement resources and support groups is available at sttammany.health/BereavementServices.
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About St. Tammany Health System
The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 and Ochsner Health work together in partnership to improve the community’s health and quality of life. Together, west St. Tammany’s top two independent health leaders represent the most complete system of care, aligning behind the common goals of improving access, expanding specialty care and making care affordable. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is A+ rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at StTammany.health.