Dear Friends, Family, and Kind Strangers,

It’s with the heaviest heart that I share something no parent should ever have to face. On July 15 2025, our sweet baby boy, Jacob, passed away in our arms after a brave fight for his life. I was only 23 weeks pregnant when he came into this world far too early, but for the short time he was here, he touched our hearts deeper than words can describe.

What happened still feels like a nightmare I can’t wake up from.

Earlier that week, I began noticing signs that something wasn’t right. I thought it might be from carrying our older son, Jackson, who is heavier now. By Wednesday night, I was spotting lightly, and by early Thursday morning at 3am, July 3 2025, my water broke unexpectedly. In a moment of panic and fear, I rushed to the hospital alone, not knowing just how serious things were.

At the hospital, I was told I was already 3cm dilated. Our baby was breech. The doctors rushed in and gave us three heartbreaking choices. We chose to try and save him, even though the surgery was high risk for both of us. I underwent an emergency C-section, where they had to cut both across my belly and vertically through my uterus to get him out safely.

Jacob was a fighter. He came into the world at 7:53 AM breathing with the help of a ventilator, and feeding on my milk. Every hour felt like a small miracle. But despite all the love, prayers, and medical care, his lungs were too underdeveloped. The doctors told us his body couldn’t continue the fight. So we had to make the hard decision to remove all life support and hold him in our arms as he passed.

We held our baby boy in our arms as he took his final breath at 8:44 PM July 15 2025. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his family, worship, prayer and love.

Now, we’re left with the unimaginable pain of planning to put our child to rest peacefully. We’re asking, with the deepest humility, for any support you can offer to help us cover Jacob’s medical bills, funeral or cremation costs, and give him the peaceful goodbye he deserves.

No parent should have to worry about money while grieving their baby. If you can give anything, no matter how small, it would mean the world to us. And if you’re not in a place to give, please consider sharing Jacob’s story and keeping us in your prayers.

Thank you for loving us through this.

With love and heartbreak,

Ruth and Dominic

Adriel, Isaiah, Eva & Jackson.

Jacobs mom, dad and siblings.