I had a dream second pregnancy. I would wake up hours before the sun and head out for long runs, just me and the bump. It was on my bucket list to run a half marathon while pregnant. With all official races canceled during Covid, it was just Rhodes with me the morning I crossed that achievement off the list.

My energy levels were high, my scans were all perfect, and our beautiful baby was thriving. One Saturday, just like any other, my husband and I sat and watched TV and talked about how different our lives would soon look. That night the baby was kicking so strongly. We had just a few weeks to go, and I needed to get up and do my birthing exercises on the ball but didn't want to miss any of those kicks. I sat there for a while, grinning and hugging my bump, and savored his movements. Little did I know that would be the last time I ever felt him. When I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't get him to respond, I knew deep in my soul, before a doctor ever confirmed, that our sweet baby was gone. 

On February 22, 2021, our second son, Rhodes Christopher, was born still into this world. We were completely blindsided by the loss and how forever different our lives would look without him in it. Despite having a nephew and second cousin born still in the years prior (XOXO MJH & CBH), we were naive to the potential of it happening to us. We didn't know how common it was, the warning signs, or how to advocate for ourselves during pregnancy. We know now and hope to use what we've learned to help prevent this catastrophic tragedy for families in the future. 

Help our team contribute to the amazing efforts of this event and its support of the Kick the Counts organization. We would love for you to join our family on September 23rd as we walk in Rhodes' honor, either in person or virtually. If you are unable to join, please consider a monetary donation to our team as we work to make our fundraising goal. 

Thank you all - for your continued love and support!