I am a long time friend of Chuck  and, more recently,  his wife Kimber.   They are the very dedicated and  wonderful parents of 3 beautiful children.  Earlier this year they were thrilled to learn that they would be adding a little girl to their family.  Until recently, this 5 member family lived in a 2 bedroom house that had a big yard where they raised chickens and the kids had plenty of room to play outdoors.  Upon hearing that they were going to have their 4th child, they knew they could no longer fit one more child into thier home.  So in November they  moved into a 3 bedroom house in preparation for their new addition. 

Just 3 days later, at 28 weeks, they were sadly informed that something was very wrong with their little girl.   She  was diagnosed with fetal hydrops. Which is excessive swelling around the organs and often fatal before or just after birth.  

Kimber and Chuck were devastated as you can imagine.  Numerous tests failed to extinguish their hopes that they might be granted a miracle, and they would, in fact, give birth to a healthy baby girl. 

In the meantime, they celebrated their youngest son's 3rd birthday, 

followed by a Happy Thanksgiving in their new home. 
On the morning of November 29th their hopes were crushed when they received the news that their precious little girl had indeed passed away.   Kimber dressed, took one last picture of herself carrying her little girl,

and went to the hospital where Iris Penelope, at 32 weeks gestation, was stillborn by cesarian section.  Her skin was peeling and purple; her face and abdomen swollen; common signs of fetal hydrops.  Nonetheless, they held her, dressed her and took a few photos...this was all they would ever see of their Iris. 

Now come the unprepared for expenses.  Chuck and Kimber want to give little Iris a proper burial and memorial, but with a new home and with Chuck missing  work to care for his wife and family,  expenses are mounting.  I have made this Go Fund Me page in hopes that some will feel compassion for them at this difficult time and help them give a respectful and proper burial and memorial to this tiny little baby of theirs.  This holiday season will always be remembered as the time when they lost their little Iris.  A memorial in honor of the hopes, dreams and love they had for Iris Penelope will not only give them one last tangible memory, but it is my hope that it may also be a reminder of a time when caring hearts reached out to them to lift them as they carried this heavy burden.