Manhattan Family's Loss, Grief Inspire Nonprofit For Others Like Them

MANHATTAN, IL — Ryne Landuyt was just 3 years old when he met his sister, and just a little more than a month later, she was gone.

Born at 24 weeks and weighing just 14 ounces on Sept. 16, 2022, Sophie Landuyt fought mightily against time and the odds, until her tiny body surrendered. It was an immeasurable loss for the tight-knit family of Ryne, and parents Tim and Katy. New Manhattan residents Tim and Katy had endured IVF to conceive both children—and they would not try for another.

<< READ ALSO: The Village That Sophie Built: An Oak Forest Preemie's Story >>

Following her death, the family faced the unknowns of their deep grief. Katy at first kept herself as busy as possible, initially creating and collecting blankets for donation to the Silver Cross Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where their Sophie had left a lasting impression on all she encountered in her short life. And even then, she knew their Sophie would play a bigger role.

"We knew soon after Sophie passed away, we knew we wanted to create a nonprofit," Katy said. "We didn’t know what that would look like. The more we thought about it, the more we saw Ryne struggling and processing through the last two years, and we decided we wanted to do something specifically for the siblings.

"There are not a lot of programs out there. It’s pretty minimal for adults, but pretty much nonexistent for children in this area."

Their idea grew into Siblings Among the Clouds, a nonprofit intended to raise awareness and provide a community of support and healing to the siblings of pregnancy and infant loss.

"We decided we’re going to be the answer for parents who need some sort of support for their children," Katy said.

It was a broad concept, but the wheels were in motion.

They looked to Ryne to lead the way. Following Sophie's death, Katy and Tim created for him a bear, with a recording of Sophie's heartbeat placed inside. A simple idea that has made a significant difference in his grieving process, Katy said.

"Ryne has been very attached to his Sophie bear," Katy said, "He sleeps with in it every night, sets up TV to watch together."

He embraces the bear as he would have Sophie, she said, and it's a way for him to feel her presence. His imagination allows him to "play" with his baby sister, and take her along through life's fun. If it could help Ryne, could it help bereaved siblings like him, she wondered.

The nonprofit's first effort, then, is to create Build-A-Bears like the one that means so much to Ryne, for donation to families at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

"Right now we’re donating them to Silver Cross, but we do hope to grow to different hospitals, and bringing this to them, as well," Katy said. "The idea, and the hope is that parents will be able to go home with something for living children.

"That’s kind of where it started to blossom."

Katy has watched as Ryne channels his grief into the project.

"Ryne has enjoyed getting to go to Build-A-Bear and make the bears," she said. "He’s taken that on his own little project. Over the summer, he’s held lemonade stands and used the money for that.

"It’s been a really sweet way for him to cope and help other kids, too. It gives him something concrete to do, through his grief."

Katy and Tim hope to grow the nonprofit to include support groups for adolescents, though that might take time to come to fruition.

In the short-term, they're focused on raising funds to create more Build-A-Bears, starting with a Cocoa with the Grinch event Sunday, Dec. 8 and Monday, Dec. 9. The event will be held at Grounded Coffee Bar in New Lenox, 2111 Calistoga Drive. From 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, and 3 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, families can stop in to Grounded, and for a $20 donation per family, receive a professional photo with the Grinch.

Grounded owner Rachael Giantomasso is donating the hot cocoa, and will offer a Grinch-themed twist to the menu.

The Landuyts' cause holds a place in Giantomasso's heart. She and husband Stephen Giannone endured the loss of a son in 2014.

"Grounded is so excited to partner with Siblings among the Clouds to raise money for such an amazing cause," Giantomasso told Patch. "As loss parents ourselves, my husband and I are honored that Katy and her organization wanted to include our coffee shop in their event."

The Siblings Among the Clouds organization has strong local ties, Katy said, with three of the board members from Manhattan. In addition to the bears, they've created an Amazon wishlist geared toward adding sibling-specific items to bereavement boxes provided by the staff of Silver Cross. They also hope to host regular fundraisers, aimed to offer loss families opportunities to come together, make crafts together—"just be in each others' presence," Katy said.

Katy is looking forward to the Cocoa with the Grinch events, and is hopeful it will help those in families like hers feel less alone.

"We’re not sure what to expect, but we’re all really excited about it," she said. "I think we have some pretty good potential to grow. We’re just really happy to be able to support family, and honor both of our kids, and the relationship they’ve continued to have after Sophie was visually in front of Ryne.

"He keeps her so very alive for us."

Cocoa with the Grinch is set for Sunday, Dec. 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 9 from 3 to 7 p.m. A $20 per family donation sends families home with a professional photo with the Grinch.