How It Started:

In August of 2024, Joey and I were so excited to find out we were expecting our little Savannah Blair. She was (and is) so very wanted by our family.

We navigated the early stages of pregnancy with ease and went into 2025 with high hopes. With a perfect 24 weeks of pregnancy under our belt, we had no reason to suspect that anything was wrong with our little girl. Unfortunately on January 6h, 2025 our anatomy scan showed Savannah was not developing as she should. Just two days later, on January 8th, 2025 we discovered our little baby had a life limiting diagnosis of Thanatophoric Dysplasia - a lethal skeletal dysplasia condition that affected her long bones, skull, chest, spine, hips, lungs and subsequently, her heart.

We were thrust into a period of anticipatory grief, trying to make end of life decisions when she was still alive and thriving in my belly. Sufficient Grace Ministries guided us with gentleness and so much understanding. They helped us finalize birth plans, checked in on us, and arranged for our maternity photos, all free of charge. Unfortunately, Savannah had other plans for us and made her grand entrance just four days before our scheduled maternity photos and four weeks before our scheduled c-section.

Sufficient Grace Ministries provided us support during the labor process, the C-section, and our post partum care. They gifted us with not only memory making items (hand and feet prints, molds, bracelets and photos) but also with gentleness and so much love. They made Savannah's grand entrance as commemorative as possible and gifted us with not only time, but treasured moments with our daughter.

Sufficient Grace Ministries also provided us with a Chrysanthemum Project bag - a collection of post partum hygiene items that are essential for life after labor.

I've connected with the Chrysanthemum Project's amazing founders, Kammie and David, parents to Daniel. After Kammie delivered their sweet little Daniel sleeping in November of 2024, Kammie suffered the baby aisle of grocery stores for her own post partum hygiene items. She was angered to discover that not only did she have to go through all of the horrors of post partum without her son, but in order to obtain the items she needed for her own care, she had to stand in the same aisle where she'd found his perfect diaper bag and should have been purchasing his diapers. Determined to make sure no other loss mama had to face the same situation she had, she created the Chrysanthemum Project. A soon-to-be non profit that provides post partum hygiene essentials to mamas enduring the worst possible outcome from their pregnancies.

Kammie has been a vital part of my labor recovery and my navigation of this endless grief. Without her love, guidance and support, I just don't think I'd be able to pull myself out of bed or walk/run in the sun knowing that there's an entire life left to experience without our daughter. Kammie also crafted our beloved "Savannah Bear" - a rainbow bear that weighs exactly 3 lbs and 6 oz to replicate our sweet Savannah Blair's weight. Savannah Bear has been so comforting to Joey and I as we continue to navigate life after losing Savannah.

The Chrysanthemum Project estimates that just one bag of post partum supplies costs $100 to make. With a donation goal of just $500 to their organization, we could sponsor 5 bags for other loss moms.

How It's Going:

Early in my c-section recovery, Joey started helping me walk the neighborhoods with our dog, Stella. He encouraged me to keep active while not overdoing it for fear of complications. When I received my "all clear" from the doctors, we began walking Friendship Park (Lake Township) regularly and working our way up to running there, as well as exploring other local parks. We're working our way through all of the Wood County Park District and branching out to other county parks.

Now at just 13 weeks post birth of Savannah, Joey is up to running 3 miles consecutively and I am a little slower behind him with only 1.5 miles. We're challenging ourselves to keep physically active and run longer distances in shorter times. We honor our Savannah by doing "Sunrise Miles" with early morning runs to greet each day as the sun rises. Our goal is to run the SGM Race for Grace 5K on October 4th, 2025 in Deshler, Ohio.

How can you help?

We'd love to honor Savannah with a large lump sum donation to Sufficient Grace Ministries so they may continue to provide support to parents navigating infant and baby loss. Additionally, we'd like to donate funds to the Chrysanthemum Project in Savannah's name. Our goal is to donate at least $2,000 total: with 75% ($1,500) going to Sufficient Grace Ministries and the other 25% ($500) going to the Chrysanthemum Project.

What's in it for you?

Besides the blood, sweat, and tears of Joey and I during our runs?

In Appreciation for donating in Savannah's honor, we hope you will accept the following Thank You's:

$25 donation - personalized Thank You card with photo of Savannah

$75 donation - 2 daffodil bulbs and personalized Thank You card with photo of Savannah

$100 donation - Magnet for baby loss awareness, 2 daffodil bulbs, and personalized Thank You card with photo of Savannah

$150 donation - Baby loss awareness yard sign with photo of Savannah, magnet, 2 daffodil bulbs, and personalized Thank You card with photo of Savannah

$200 donation or more - "It's Ok to Talk About It" baby loss t-shirt, Baby loss awareness yard sign with photo of Savannah, magnet, 2 daffodil bulbs, and personalized Thank You card with photo of Savannah

Thank you for choosing to contribute in Savannah Blair Burch's name and honor.

ALSO, PLEASE KNOW THAT BECAUSE DONATIONS ARE MADE TO US AND WE WILL BE MAKING THE ONE LUMP SUM DONATION TO SUFFICIENT GRACE MINISTRIES AND THE CHRYSANTHEMUM PROJECT, DONATIONS ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE FOR YOU.