Out of the Ashes 5k & Remembrance Walk

Savannah Kathryn “Savvy Kat” was born into heaven on December 8, 2023, at 24 weeks. We miss her deeply and carry her in our hearts every day. We don't know why she didn't get to stay. In what we thought would be a routine ultrasound,  we heard the six words that (at the time) we didn't know was possible to hear at this stage of pregnancy: “I'm so sorry—there’s no heartbeat.”

We are forever grateful for the compassionate doctors and nurses at Atrium Main, who walked with us through the unimaginable. As the reality sank in—that our hello would also be a goodbye—we could not have endured it without their care. They made space for us in our raw and immense grief. Our anesthesiaologist called me Mama -- and made sure I knew that I am a Mom -- even though she didn't get to stay. One nurse, Lauren, gently asked me her name and took the time to get to know our daughter. I told her "Her name was going to be Savannah." And Lauren replied "Her name is Savannah." Another nurse, Abby, thoughtfully captured photographs of our time together after delivery—something I never would have thought to do, and those images have become treasures we will hold close forever. We will never forget their kindness.

We are also thankful for the incredible support of organizations like June’s Blooms, who placed a bouquet in my arms so I wouldn’t leave the hospital empty-handed; Out of the Ashes; The Ampersand Collective; and Hope Ministries Bible Study, which continue to provide a safe space to gather, share, and heal. And most of all, we are thankful that God chose us to be Savannah’s parents.

We will always carry the joy of being her Mom and Dad alongside the grief and longing for her to be here with us. Though the ache remains, we find comfort knowing we don’t walk this road alone. To our dear friends and family—thank you for standing by us from the moment you learned we were pregnant to this day: a year and a half later. You continue to love her as much as we do and, most importantly, you always, always, always say her name.

This year, we invite you to join or support our team as we walk in honor of Savannah—and in honor of the countless families grieving pregnancy loss, infant loss, and infertility. Together, their lives will be remembered as Out of the Ashes Foundation continues its ministry of love, compassion, and healing for bereaved parents.

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Ways your money supports bereaved families:

• Creating and shipping gifts and cards to bereaved parents
• Funding their Medical Bill Relief Grant, which covers bills associated with loss & infertility discovery
• Launching and facilitating their Couples Connect group
• Hosting events for families to connect and share their stories
• Paying staff members to keep things running

Will you join us, honor our loved ones, and expand the reach of this ministry?