NICU

Three days later, Blakely passed away in my arms. As I held him, the doctors came in to share the news that Dericka had tested positive for Trisomy 18. Until that moment, we had hoped the Trisomy 18 diagnosis belonged to Blakely. But in another rare twist, it turned out each of our twins had…

OAW has been instrumental in keeping Genesis Makenna’s memory alive, giving me a place to heal and a way to give back to families like mine. Being directly involved in this work — the same work that meant so much to me during my darkest moments — has brought healing and meaning I never expected.

The NICU Halloween Mini Sessions began in 2023 and have quickly become a cherished annual tradition for both hospital staff and OAW volunteers. Each session celebrates resilience, community, and the small but powerful joys that can exist even in the most delicate circumstances.

Looking back, knowing now what they offer, I wish I had connected with On Angels’ Wings back in 2019 when we experienced our first loss. Because I knew loss was possible, with Jamysen I had simply wanted a family photo in case something unexpected happened… but we were blessed with more than I could have…

Theophilus (Theo) was born at just 25 weeks—a true micro preemie. I just want to give him the best life we possibly can. I never want [a] diagnosis to define him. He’s already done so much more than the doctors ever predicted he would.

His diagnosis and death deeply impacted our lives. We were thrust into a world we didn’t recognize, trying to navigate the deep grief of losing a child while still being parents and attempting to move forward. The aftermath of child loss is a winding road and can be treacherous. We have to learn how to…

We can’t take him out and show him the world like we want to because he gets sick so easily. And when he does, it becomes life-threatening.

The day Maddy was born, we were told she had bleeding on both sides of her brain and her kidneys were showing signs of failure. They only gave her one day to survive, but our little angel fought and lived another two days.

Everything changed at the time of his birth. Only then did we begin to understand the magnitude of his sickness and the challenges that were ahead. After he was born, his doctors could finally give us more information about the severity of his condition. Reality set in once we had some concrete facts.

I hope for happiness, health, love, and wellbeing. I hope life is fair to him. That he surrounds himself with people who see his worth and respect him. Friends who cherish him. I hope he dreams of all the possibilities and ways he can contribute to changing the world.