Lexie's Story
From as far back as I can remember, I dreamed of being a mom. It wasn’t just a hope—it was a part of who I was. About six months into my first year of marriage, my husband, Jake, and I found out we were expecting. It was a complete surprise, but one that instantly filled our hearts with so much joy and anticipation.
The first trimester felt like a breeze—I passed every test with flying colors. I held onto that 12-week milestone like it was a promise, believing that once I crossed it, my baby was safe. But life, in its unpredictable and heartbreaking ways, had other plans.
I still remember that simple outside ultrasound. It was there, in a span of just 15 minutes, that I felt both the highest of highs and the deepest of lows. We learned we were having a baby girl—a moment I had dreamed about countless times. But that joy was quickly shadowed when the doctor gently explained that our little girl had Hydrops Fetalis—a devastating and often fatal condition causing fluid to build up throughout her tiny body. I was 14 weeks pregnant.
Three weeks later, her beautiful, fragile heart stopped beating on its own. And then, I gave birth to our daughter, Lenora Jo.
Losing her was a pain I never knew existed—an ache that settled deep within my soul. At first, I couldn’t comprehend it. How could I have loved someone so deeply, so instantly, only to have her taken away? But over time, through the tears and quiet moments of reflection, I found peace in knowing that Lenora only ever knew love—from the moment she existed, through her short time with me, and beyond.
I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand why these things happen. There’s an emptiness that lingers, but there’s also this profound, beautiful truth: Lenora Jo is still with us, in every quiet moment, in every burst of sunlight, in every beat of my heart.
Now, I carry her story with me—not just as a memory, but as a beacon. I share it for others who may be walking through the same dark, uncertain path, so they know they’re not alone. And it’s with this purpose that I hope to pour my heart into my time at MAMAs—honoring Lenora, and standing beside others in their moments of need.