My name is Anthony Pettiford. When my wife and I found out we were expecting our first child, I was overjoyed. And when we learned we were having a boy, I was ecstatic because I’m a junior, and I had always dreamed of naming my son after me and my dad. We planned to name him Anthony Wayne Pettiford III, but somewhere along the way, he simply became AJ to us.

Like many first-time parents, we dreamed big—what we’d buy, how we’d raise him, where his room would be. We never imagined we could lose him, but we did. AJ was stillborn on April 29, 2021.

Since then, we’ve tried to honor AJ every single day. We’ve welcomed two rainbow babies into our lives: his little sister, Amaya Hope, and just recently, his little brother, Avery. Our family continues to grow, but AJ remains at the center of our hearts, memories, and love.