The unthinkable happened.

On the morning of Monday, December 2nd, 2024, Brittany was driving to work. A little after 6:30am she was in a terrible accident. The force of the incident ripped most of the front end of her car off. The car was totaled and she was rushed to the hospital for an emergency C-section, as she was 29 weeks pregnant.

To the best of Brittany and Blake’s understanding the other driver was uninjured and there were no citations issued at that time. Only Brittany left in an ambulance, and into surgery at the closest trauma hospital for a total of 3 surgeries that were all required as a result of this accident.

It was touch and go for a while with Brittany, as she was kept sedated for a total of thirty hours, but after only one hour it was known:

Their sweet baby boy Maverick Russell didn't make it.

He died.

After 3 emergency surgeries Brittany spent about a week and a half in the hospital, before being sent home for approximately 24hrs before Blake noticed some negative signs and rushed her to the hospital again. This resulted in another 2 emergency surgeries due to a gnarly infection. She stayed at the hospital for another 2.5 weeks or so with Blake still by her side. Day and night.

Brittany had 5 surgeries total and still has a woundvac. She hasn’t been able to fully shower for more than 7 weeks (Blake does his best to try to keep her smelling alright).Blake and Brittany are both on unpaid leave but basically are functioning full time between appointments with the surgeon, OB, physical therapy, the lawyer, the detective, therapy, grief groups, the list goes on and on.

A note from Brittany and Blake:

Luckily Blake's parents have been so kind as to offer to let us live with them, as we begin to rebuild our lives with Maverick in our hearts instead of in our arms.

We could use some help. The therapist running our parenting loss grief group suggested that we reach out to our friend groups and families. She mentioned you are likely desperately wanting to help, but just really didn't know how. So this is us, asking for help. Here’s how you can help:

This is it!

Unfortunately it wouldn't be too easy to organize a day to have everyone available at the same day/time to help pack and move everything. So we're asking for help to cover the cost of professional movers coming to box up our old place and move it to storage.

Please guys, if you can't help, it's alright. Light a candle for our boy Mav, or simply say his name out loud.

What also would be helpful would just be a text helping us to relearn how to have normal conversations with normal people. Shoot either of us a text just letting us know about your day, or a co-worker's wardrobe malfunction, or your dog's favorite toy, a song you've been listening to, etc... We appreciate how you've all respected our request for privacy in the beginning, but we could use you now.

Ph# Britt:208-784-2181

Ph# Blake:714-767-6709