AJ’s Legacy Team Fundraising
My husband and I lost our sweet son, Anthony Wayne Pettiford III (AJ) unexpectedly on April 28, 2021. My pregnancy was going well, and AJ was constantly moving! I did kick counts, but it never took long to feel ten movements. I went to my 39 week visit on April 27, heard a heartbeat and everything was going well. The next day I went into labor at work. AJ had moved that morning, but once labor started, I stopped paying attention to his movement and timing contractions. We went to the hospital and at triage we learned that AJ’s heart had stopped beating. It took time to confirm. Two nurses tried the doppler, which I was sure had malfunctioned. An ultrasound technician, then a physician came to confirm our son had died. The moment is still surreal in my head. I knew he was alive that morning, so I didn’t know what could’ve happened. My labor with AJ is blurry but I know my family came to support my husband and I through the worst few days of our lives. The next morning, on April 29 at 6:45 am I gave birth to AJ who weighed 8 pounds and 0.4 ounces and was 21 inches long. He was perfect in almost every way, his heart just stopped.
We know now after an ultrasound that AJ’s death was caused by a cord accident. The cord became compressed or otherwise compromised, most likely when contractions started. There were no knots in the cord, but it was in the 90th percentile in length. More research needs to be done to learn how to prevent future parents' worst day. I am angry that more hasn’t been done yet. My career is in pediatric injury prevention and I know there are ways to prevent unintentional deaths from unsafe sleep to using a car seat. After AJ’s death I learned that 47% of stillbirths are preventable with better preconception health and teaching moms to do kick counts. I am proud to join Lydie’s family in raising money to help educate moms on the importance of counting kicks."
Our Team
-
Jody Pettiford $157.50
-
Abbey Pettiford Team Captain $80.00
-
Dennis Rymarczyk $31.50
-
Timmy Williams $30.80
-
Mary Brigid Young $30.00
-
Molly McCourt $29.30
-
Taylor Williams $28.00
-
Jenna Pettiford $27.50
-
Rebecca Mcleod $27.50
-
Erin Skrzyniecki $25.00
-
Kevin Skrzyniecki $25.00
-
Jack Skrzyniecki $25.00
-
Anthony Pettiford $25.00
-
Addison Pettiford $25.00
-
Jamie McCourt $25.00
-
Dennis Mcleod $25.00
-
Jennifer Lenz $25.00
-
Travis Lykins $25.00
-
Jill Pierce $25.00
-
Benjamin Pierce $25.00
-
Sullivan Young $23.00
-
Charlotte Skrzyniecki $18.00
-
Ellie Skrzyniecki $18.00
-
Shea McCourt $18.00
-
Erin McCourt $18.00
-
Amaya Pettiford $18.00
-
Lorenzo Lykins $18.00
-
Milo Lykins $18.00
-
Oliver Pierce $18.00
-
Winston Pierce $18.00
$1,445.30
achieved
$1,000.00
goal
of your goal reached
0
days
0
hours
0
mins
0
secs
Recent Activity
-
$
Karen Rymarczyk donated $63.00 to AJ’s Legacy
Share: -
Taylor Williams joined AJ’s Legacy
Share: -
Timmy Williams joined AJ’s Legacy
Share: -
Dennis Rymarczyk joined AJ’s Legacy
Share: -
$
AnnDee Pettiford donated $105.00 to AJ’s Legacy
Share: - View More Recent Activity
Our Supporters
- Karen Rymarczyk September 2023 $63.00
- Joyce Robinson September 2023 $26.25
- AnnDee Pettiford September 2023 $105.00
- Housh Family Much love to the Pettiford’s and AJ. September 2023 $105.00
- Anonymous September 2023
- Jody Pettiford August 2023 $106.25
- AnnDee Pettiford September 2023 $105.00
- Housh Family Much love to the Pettiford’s and AJ. September 2023 $105.00
- Karen Rymarczyk September 2023 $63.00
- Abbey Pettiford July 2023 $55.00