I was able to carry my baby boy, Hezekiah Reed King, up to my sixth month of pregnancy. Something very traumatic happened within my family, and I was admitted to the hospital on February 15, 2026. The next day, February 16, 2026, at 11:06 a.m., Hezekiah was born via emergency c-section because his heart rate began to drop after my epidural. He was only 23 weeks and 6 days old and weighed just 1 lb at birth. I didn't get to hold him—he was immediately rushed to the NICU, where he began his fight for life.

Hezekiah slowly started gaining weight, but he struggled to breathe without a ventilator. After more testing, the doctors discovered that his top left lung hadn't developed, though his right lung was working hard to keep him going. Despite many medicines and different ventilators, his right lung had to work even harder as he gained weight. Over time, my baby boy got sicker, and in his last few days, he began to swell badly. The doctors advised me to make a choice for my sweet boy. On April 11, 2026, I had to do the hardest thing I've ever done: I held my baby as he took his last breath. He gasped three times, then he was gone. The pain I felt was so deep, all I could do was hold him and cry my heart out.

I'm seeking help to gather funds to throw Hezekiah a lovely memorial, as I have decided to cremate my baby boy. I can't bear the thought of seeing him in a casket or burying him, so I chose cremation. If anyone has it in their heart to help a grieving mother, it would be greatly appreciated. I want to create shirts with his name and picture, poster photos, memorial cards, food for those attending, balloons, cremation jewelry, and a special urn to store his ashes. My son was 1 month, 3 weeks, and 3 days old when he passed. He never got to come home; all his time was spent in the NICU. That's why this memorial gathering means so much to me—he deserves to be celebrated because my baby boy fought so hard.