Thank you so much for making your way to our fundraising page. We are the Reeders--Kate, Ryan, Ellis, Boo and Baby Bean due at the end of May 2025.
In March of 2024, Kate found out she was pregnant. Baby Boo was due on Halloween 2024. Everything with her pregnancy was routine and normal--up until her 16 week check up. At that doctor's appointment, she was placed in an exam room with a bedside ultrasound machine, so her OB decided to do a quick scan. The moment will haunt Kate forever--the searching, the silence, the bright lights and, ultimately, the words from her OB that a heartbeat was no longer detected. A second OB was called in just to verify the news (which he did) and things moved quickly from there. Because Kate's body showed no signs of early labor, an abortion was recommended and took place the next day. A wanted pregnancy, a wanted child, gone so suddenly.
Kate and Ryan agreed to do testing on their son Boo and found out he had two conditions--both incompatible with life. One was anencephaly which is a rare and severe birth defect where a baby is born without significant portions of their brain and/or skull. Boo was also diagnosed with Edwards Syndrome which is a genetic disorder that occurs when a baby has an extra copy of chromosome 18. It can cause organ defects, intellectual disabilities and physical deformities. To say the news was shocking is an understatement--especially because Kate did all of the recommended prenatal care and testing.
When Kate and Ryan lost Boo, they received a lot of support from friends and family, but also significant support from Virtua's Perinatal Bereavement Program. Ann Coyle sat with Kate and Ryan before surgery and listened as their shared their sorrows and what ifs. A week later, she mailed a packet of resources their way. Ann invited Kate to join the support group where Kate found immense comfort in talking with other loss moms. They've attended events with other loss parents and have found a new community of friends.
Kate and Ryan are expecting another baby at the end of May--due nearly a year after losing Boo. While this rainbow baby will be so loved and cherished, they both want to give back to Virtua's Perinatal Bereavement program for all of the support they've provided the couple in the last year and in the years to come. It would be an honor to receive a donation for this wonderful charity, in our son Boo's name.
Kate and Ryan look forward to attending the race with their two and a half year old son, Ellis, and their newest baby (who will be so so small...eeeeek so exciting!) and any other local friends and family who can make it out on race day!
Thanks again for reading our story and supporting this wonderful organization that has truly provided so much love and care to us throughout the last year.
