In 2016, a sweet baby boy named Aryien Josiah Spradlin spent just one month on this earth before returning to the Lord’s arms.

While almost a decade has passed, for his mother, Cheyenne, the world hasn’t stopped grieving. I am a close friend of Cheyenne’s, and though I didn’t know her when she lost Aryien, I have sat with her as she looked through his box of belongings. I have seen the pain she still carries—a weight that hasn't eased with time.

When Cheyenne shared with me that Aryien still doesn’t have a headstone, my heart broke. As a single mother of four, Cheyenne pours every ounce of her energy and income into providing for her children. A memorial for her son has always felt just out of reach financially, despite how much she longs for it.

I believe it is never too late to do the right thing. I am starting this fundraiser to finally provide Aryien with the memorial he deserves and to give Cheyenne a place of peace to visit her son. I have researched the costs and found that a proper headstone will be approximately $2,000.

Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward honoring Aryien’s memory. Thank you for your time, your prayers, and your generosity in helping a mother finally find some closure.

I attached a photo of what the memorial stone will look like. I showed the mother, Cheyenne, and it brought tears to her eyes and she stated she loved it and can’t stop looking at it. Until I showed her, she had never even seen his name on a stone. I really hope and pray that I can make this happen for her.