Kori announced to her sisters that she was having a baby with a pregnancy test in a hot-dog bun at one of their little brother's basketball games, and from that moment on there was rarely a dull moment during her pregnancy!

While she and Nick planned for the arrival of their son, they also began the journey of making a new home for themselves and their growing family. Imagine planning a house-warming/baby shower? However, plans were slowed when Kori was admitted to the hospital for the rest of her pregnancy at an early 22 weeks along. It was then that Niko started showing signs of impatience to meet his mom and dad. While Kori endured endless tests, pokes and prods through all hours of the day and night, Nick spent time working and commuting to his pregnant fiancé-all the while, both of them working tirelessly to plan for the house they wanted to bring their son home to.

Kori and Nick were a testament to how far perseverance, hard work, and a fierce love for each other and their unborn son could take them! In a time of upheaval, they still picked out a theme for a nursery. In the face of immense change, they found time to tell each other 'I love you' while gently reading stories to Kori's growing belly.

After several complications and surprise developments, on August 28th around 2:30 am, an eager Niko Maximus Holbrook was ushered into this world. The following days were filled with anxiety, excitement, and fear of the unknown. But he greeted the world with a fighter's heart and a strength that his family knew he got from his parents! Niko pushed his tiny lungs through every late night episode, and soon even began to up his feeding levels while lowering the amount of assistance he needed from his defibrillator. It was made clear early on that this baby was a warrior. With his daddy's hands and his mommy's nose, he quickly endeared himself to everyone he met-his nurses and doctors quickly adopting the loving titles of "aunties" and "uncles"! He was fawned over by grandparents, aunts and uncles alike. It seemed that to even share a room with the little miracle meant falling in love with him! While Kori recovered, and she and Nick spent time getting to know their son, and the preparations for moving day continued, with Nick's mother, Faith, working tirelessly. The future brimming with light, love and possibility shone bright before the budding family.

On September 8th, a devastating 11 days after his birth, little Niko fell ill with infection and was called home to God.

It only took 11 days for an entire family to fall in love. 11 days to gaze at the tiny wonder and whisper introductions. 11 days of murmured 'I love you's and 'you are so strong's. 11 days of praying to God and begging for strength, growth and health.

While Kori and Nick have been faced with one of the most heartbreaking ordeals any human can endure, they have found strength in their love and the love of their friends, family and community. This fund will still go towards their new beginning. It will go towards Niko's memory and the love that radiated from and around him for 11 blessed days.

We ask now that any donation not be made out of sadness, heartbreak, or despair. Instead, any and all funds will go towards light, peace, and healing for two young parents looking to their future together. God bless.