On a somber Sunday, May 19th, 2019, a profound shift in my pregnancy became evident. The following day, as the ultrasound wand swept over my belly, it confirmed our fears – our daughter's heartbeat had stopped. In that heart-wrenching moment, the unthinkable reality of giving birth and leaving the hospital without our precious daughter gripped us; a nightmare no parent ever imagines facing. On May 21st, after celebrating our son's 2nd-grade graduation and sharing dinner with my parents, we kissed our son goodbye and embarked on the agonizing journey to the hospital. I was 28 weeks pregnant when, on Saturday, May 25th, after enduring five days of labor, our daughter, Aylee Katelynn Grace LeBlanc, entered the world peacefully at 6:51 am. She weighed a mere 14.6 ounces and measured 8 ½ inches in length. Much of our hospital stay remains a blur. No one had prepared us for the unsettling realities of stillbirth, such as skin slippage, the rapid deterioration of stillborn babies after birth, or the possibility of amnesia stemming from a traumatic delivery. Despite our research, nothing could have readied us for this heart-wrenching journey. Our daughter was born sleeping, and our hearts were shattered. As my husband, Jason, loaded our car to depart, the harsh reality struck us – we were leaving the hospital not with a baby but with a bereavement box. Planning the burial of our child was a heavy burden, one no parent, especially young ones like us, should ever have to bear. As we began arranging Aylee's service, we were overwhelmed by the expenses, discovering that her casket spray was not even included in the burial cost. I recall coming home, tears flowing, utterly drained and defeated. The following day, we met with a compassionate florist to craft Aylee's casket spray. I had a clear vision in mind – star gazer lilies, liatris, peonies, and tulips. As the florist took notes, I anxiously asked, "I know I have good taste in flowers, but what will this cost?" His response was unexpected yet profoundly moving: "Someone you know has contacted us and wishes to cover the cost of Aylee's flowers." Since that day, a burning desire to give back to families in the same way has been etched into my heart. On June 1st, amid an intimate graveside service, I delivered Aylee's eulogy, surrounded by our dearest friends and family. Rev. Msgr. Harrington's soothing voice filled the air, and Aylee was gently laid to rest. Knowing that we wanted to offer support to other families enduring similar pain, we took the ensuing seven months to reflect, heal as best we could, and channel our grief into a purposeful mission by founding Aylee's Angels.

With Love, Aylee’s Mom, Katherine LeBlanc