No parent should ever have to plan a funeral for their baby.

Just weeks before they expected to bring their daughter home, our dear friends Phil and Jess Thibault experienced the unthinkable. At 33 weeks pregnant they lost their baby girl, Chloe June Thibault.

For months their family had been preparing to welcome Chloe. Her name had already been chosen. Her place in the family was already real and deeply loved.

Their daughter Lucy (6) had been especially excited to become a big sister again. Lucy loves babies more than anything. She probably has close to a 50 baby dolls and she takes care of them like a little mother. She had been looking forward to helping care for Chloe and holding her baby sister.

Their son Jack (3) is one of the most gentle little boys you could meet. Anyone who has seen him around babies knows exactly what that means. He is fun and compassionate and brave and he would have been the sweetest big brother to Chloe.

Phil and Jess are the kind of people who quietly show up for others again and again without asking for anything in return. They serve faithfully in their church and in their community. Phil serves as a counselor in the Elders Quorum and teaches Sunday School. Jess also teaches Sunday School. They are the neighbors who check in on people, the friends who bring meals, the people who step in when someone else is struggling.

Phil works at a growing 401k startup company and also trains people at Burn Boot Camp alongside Jess, who works there as a receptionist. Phil works incredibly hard to provide for his family, but what makes him such a special father is how intentional he is with his kids. He is always looking for ways to teach Lucy and Jack meaningful life lessons in ways they can understand. He is constantly working to become a better father, husband, and person so he can be strong for his family no matter what life brings.

Jess is one of the most loving and devoted mothers you could ever meet. Her kids are her whole world. Anyone who knows her knows how deeply she loves Lucy and Jack and how much warmth and kindness she brings to the people around her. She is constantly looking for ways to serve others and cheer on her friends and family for the success they have. She’s incredibly supportive to those friends who struggle with their own problems - often the first to show up and lend a helping hand.

The loss of Chloe has shaken their whole family. Along with the deep grief of losing their baby girl they are now facing medical bills from the pregnancy and delivery, along with the unexpected costs of planning a funeral and memorial.

Phil will also need to take time away from work so he can be home supporting Jess and caring for Lucy and Jack as their family begins the long process of healing.

Many people have asked how they can help, especially friends and family who live far away and wish they could do something.

This fundraiser is simply a way for all of us to come together and lift a small part of the burden from their shoulders so they can focus on grieving and begin the healing journey.

Funds from this campaign will help cover medical expenses from the pregnancy and delivery, funeral and memorial costs for Chloe, and provide some support for the family while Phil takes time away from work to care for Jess, Lucy, and Jack.

Anyone who knows Phil and Jess knows they would never ask for something like this themselves. They are usually the ones quietly helping others behind the scenes. This fundraiser was created by friends who love them and simply want to carry a small part of the burden during an incredibly heavy season.

No amount of money could ever fill the space Chloe leaves in their hearts. But we hope this can remove some of the financial pressure so Phil and Jess can focus on what matters most right now — grieving, healing, and being together as a family.

Please don’t feel like your contribution has to be large. What matters most is simply showing this family they are not alone.