Meet The Team

Alexa is a nurse, birth trauma survivor, advocate and loss mom. On September 21, 2022, at 37 weeks & 5 days gestation, Alexa experienced a uterine rupture during a trial of labor after caesarean section and her son Kayde, was born sleeping. After walking this road and continuously identifying gaps in care and support, Alexa created The Kayde Foundation & Beyond The Birth Story Podcast to ensure everyone is given the opportunity to have a voice and not walk this journey of heartbreak, alone in isolation. Alexa is committed to ensuring appropriate ongoing care is available and recognizes there is no timeline related to grief. Alexa knows first hand the finality of this type of loss and how sacred the moments with our babies are, through experience and ongoing education, she is making every memory possible available to families. 

Rooted in rural life, Brina Kiziak and her husband run a mixed farming operation near Vermilion, Alberta—living out the values of hard work, stewardship, and resilience. Alongside farm life, Brina works as a Community and Indigenous Affairs Analyst, a role grounded in building relationships, supporting others, and fostering the spirit of being stronger together.

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Brina witnessed firsthand the heartbreak Alexa and her family experienced in the loss of Kayde. That experience strengthened her belief in the importance of community and inspired her to act.

Joining the Kayde Foundation was a natural choice for Brina—an opportunity to bring faith, strength, hope and meaningful support to families across the region. She is deeply committed to nurturing her hometown and believes in the power of compassion, service, and the lasting impact of leaving things better than we find them—principles she carries into every part of her work with the Kayde Foundation.

Candice Anderson is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and the owner of Reflections Funeral & Cremation Services in Vermilion, Alberta. She is dedicated to providing meaningful, individualized ceremonies that honor life and loss, with a sense of empathy and professionalism at the forefront. 

Candice brings a strong commitment to community service, holding leadership roles in several non-profit and volunteer organizations across Alberta. Her involvement in The Kayde Foundation reflects her deep belief in supporting rural families through tangible resources that make an impactful difference in times of sorrow.

Candice lives in Vermilion with her husband Joshua and their two young children. She is honoured to support The Kayde Foundation’s vision of comfort and connection in Northeast Alberta’s rural communities.

Elise Rayment is a Registered Nurse, Care Manager, and proud mom who brings both professional expertise and personal experiences to her role on the board. Her own journey through fertility and her work in healthcare have shaped a compassionate and determined commitment to supporting families navigating grief, uncertainty and loss. Elise has witnessed the quiet strength of those navigating profound grief and is passionate about improving access to care and resources, creating space for healing, connection, and support. 

Shannon Harrower is the CAO for the Town of Vermilion, a freelance makeup artist and a mother of two. Shannon has spent the last ten (10) years working in a variety of capacities for several municipalities in rural Alberta and has a passion for developing and implementing new programs and initiatives.

Shannon, at 3 weeks postpartum herself, was ill prepared to provide the support and guidance that Alexa and her family needed after experiencing the devastating loss of their sweet baby boy, Kayde. As someone who has never experienced or known anyone who has gone through this type of loss, she had no idea what she needed to do to support her best friend. Given the added layer of learning to navigate a friendship within the duality of emotions in terms of joy and sadness, she was confused and desperate to help, Shannon turned to Google in hopes that there would be a clear set of instructions on how she could best support Alexa during this difficult time. Turns out, Google had a ton of suggestions, many of which did not seem appropriate given the circumstances. Some were over the top or others, insensitive.

When it came to being a part of the Kayde Foundation, there was absolutely no hesitation on Shannon’s behalf. Learning to support your friends, family members, colleagues, etc., in their time of grief is not something that necessarily comes naturally to everyone. It is important that we recognize those challenges and work in unison to give one another grace. Shannon is honored to have been asked to be part of the Kayde Foundation so that she can empower others to find their strength and their voice when it comes to supporting others in their time of need. While also recognizing that it is also ok to have no idea what you’re supposed to do. 

Kimberly is a Registered Nurse and mother of 2 daughters. She has experienced a 6 week NICU stay with her first daughter who was born prematurely at 31+5 weeks. With a strong background in nursing and a journey through the NICU with a preemie, she has experienced the highs and lows of infertility, pregnancy, postpartum and loss. 

As those who have walked a similar journey, Kimberly has identified many gaps in the lack of support systems and knows there needs to be more support available for other families going through adversity.

Pat Conlon is Kayde's Grandmother. She combines her personal experiences with a retired nursing and social work background to bring a multidimensional perspective and support to The Kayde Foundation. She has witnessed the heartbreaking effects the loss of a baby has on all family members. During her own childhood, Pat's mother lost full term twin boys on Christmas Day in 1956. Back then support systems were completely non-existent. Awed by the resiliency of women and families who suffer child loss, Pat is committed to ensuring their voices are heard.

Jordyn Andersen has worked as an acute care nurse for over 10 years.  5 years ago, she became a loss mom to her precious baby girl, Jordyn “baby J” who was born sleeping at 40 weeks and 4 days gestation on August 24, 2020. Baby J’s absence is deeply felt, yet her presence has given Jordyn a sense of purpose. Prior to her devastating loss, Jordyn experienced 2 miscarriages which began shifting the way she was able to view the journey of pregnancy.
Through her own journey of unimaginable loss, she has come to understand the silence, the ache, and the often-lonely road of grief. Now, she is committed to helping others navigate the complex and tender experience of baby loss, grief, and healing.
Jordyn is also a mom to a vibrant 3-year-old daughter and 9 month old son who keeps her heart full and reminds her daily that joy and sorrow can coexist. There is hope after heartbreak, and she is here to hold space for your pain, memories, and healing.