ORLANDO, Fla. — On a day when there should have been a party — her son’s 10th birthday — Cara Berry wiped away tears as she hugged a room full of mothers.
It was not a celebration, but honored her son in a profound way, as Berry leaned on other mothers who had walked similar paths in life.
They, too, lost a child.
“Liam was just a firecracker. He was a bright light. He loved ice cream, of course,” Berry said.
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream donated 10% of sales at its seven scoop shop locations to The Finley Project, a nonprofit that helps mothers and their families who are grieving.
It was the same organization that lifted up Berry in her time of need after losing Liam at the age of 3 in a home accident.
“Losing a child, you’re never mentally, physically, emotionally prepared for, but through the Finley Project, I found a group of moms who have unfortunately walked the same walk,” Berry said.
The Finley Project was started by Noelle Moore-Fernandez, who lost her child, Finley. Moore-Fernandez said she saw a gap in services for families between the hospital and home after infant loss.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind program,” Moore-Fernandez said. “It provides seven services to our families, such as housecleaning, massage therapy, counseling, and other things. We also provide a sense of community, as you can see here today.”
As Liam’s 10th birthday approached, Berry said that she reached out to another mother, Kelly Seidl, co-owner of Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream.
After all, many family celebrations were spent at Kelly’s, Berry noted, and her son loved the kid favorite Cookie Monster ice cream with sprinkles.
Seidl said that she met Liam eight or nine years ago when she asked him to hop on board her ice cream truck — and was eager to support the nonprofit and honor Liam’s legacy.
“I was a pediatric nurse, so Liam just holds a special place in my heart,” Seidl said.
The event showed how the Orlando community supports families during both loss and celebration, Seidl said.
“I think Orlando has an amazing community supporting those, whether it’s a loss or a celebration, really comes together,” Seidl said. “Today really shows what that community means.”
Berry herself found meaning in the years that followed heartbreak.
She now volunteers for The Finley Project, supporting other families on their own journeys after loss.
“My dream is for everyone to just smile a little today,” Berry said. “My son was just sunshine and adventures and happiness. And I hope everyone just smiles like him today and enjoys the world a little bit today.”