In Memory of Jace Alexander Lowry.
“Jace would have been 11 months old today. We would have started the #CountdownToOne by posting pictures every week, planning a birthday party and reflecting on how he has changed our lives in the most amazing way.
Instead, we are dreading the #CountdownToOneYear. We are dreading the forever emptiness that’s growing daily, the sadness, anxiety and having flashbacks of those awful days.
However, we still want to celebrate the life of our baby boy in the best way that we know how and that is giving back. Please read our story and donate. Help us help other parents have a little bit of sunshine on their cloudy days,” said Tiffany Lowry.
When you suffer a loss, it is so very hard to say goodbye but you hold on tight to those memories and they get you through. What if you don’t have those memories? What if you never got to meet the one you loved so dearly before they were gone? What if you didn’t have the time? What then?
I have shared my story of losing 4 pregnancies and the effect that it still has on me. (Click here to read about it.) I can’t even imagine the pain and suffering a family must go through when those losses are late term. The grief must be unimaginable. My heart breaks for them.
The Lowry family lives in my neighborhood and they suffered a tragic loss at 40 weeks. In remembrance of their sweet baby, that was too beautiful for this world, they wanted to do something to make this just a little easier on someone else.
What a selfless act to share your pain, so others can benefit. Here is their story. This was written by Tiffany Lowry.
“On August 28, 2018, our world seemed to have stopped as we heard those dreaded words: “there is no heartbeat.” We got the news on our due date, at exactly 40 weeks gestation. I screamed. We cried. I hyperventilated. I couldn’t catch my breath. We lost our little boy. We had been preparing for his arrival for 9 months, waiting for him to make his debut only to find out that he was gone. We were admitted and induced right away. My plan was for an all-natural birth. I felt like I had to suffer because my baby passed away and, in my mind, he suffered. But my husband, Mick, said “we have been through enough pain, don’t make yourself go through more,” so I got the epidural. After 17 hours of labor and 4 hours of pushing (21 hours total), Jace Alexander Lowry was born at 2:47am on August 30, 2018. He was/is the most beautiful baby I’ve ever laid my eyes on. I finally had my twin.
We had a birth photographer there to take pictures during our delivery, pictures of our family and our precious, sleeping little Jace. The nurses dressed him in the cutest outfit and wrapped him in a nice blanket. I was able to introduce his big brother to him. His dad held him tightly. I held him while I slept. I kissed him, told him I was sorry and that I loved him over and over. The hospital did not have a working CuddleCot to keep him cool so I had the air turned to the lowest possible setting to try to preserve his body for long as I could. I didn’t want to say goodbye. I wasn’t ready to send him to the morgue. The nurse kept saying he was deteriorating, but in my eyes, he was still perfect. We spent 19 hours with Jace. That night, we had to say our goodbyes to our son forever, giving him one last kiss to last a lifetime.
After leaving the hospital and going to our quiet home, we knew we wanted to gift a CuddleCot and/or a Caring Cradle to the hospital so other parents who unfortunately have to go through the pain of losing a child will be able to spend as much time with them as possible.
So, what is a CuddleCot and a Caring Cradle?
The CuddleCot is a cooling pad that is placed in any Moses basket, crib, bed or other receptacle. It is connected by a specially insulated hose and is quietly cooled using the CuddleCot cooling unit. The price of this is around $3000.
The Caring Cradle is a bassinet and cart that does not require staff monitoring to keep cool and will remain cool for 3 days. Because of the ease of this device, the price is more expensive at $5000.
Both units keep the baby’s temperature low to allow grieving parents to have more time with their child before sending them to the morgue.
For Jace’s 1st birthday, we don’t get to throw a party with cute decorations, watch him crawl or take some steps, smash cake in his face or sing happy birthday. Instead, with broken hearts and empty arms, we will donate something healing and powerful to keep Jace’s memory alive. For his birthday, we want to give other parents the “Gift of Time” by donating a CuddleCot or 2 or 3 to the hospital where I delivered, Atrium Health Pineville (formerly CMC Pineville).
Thank you for all of your support. Our village has been amazing and we know Jace is so loved!
Links for the CuddleCot and Caring Cradle if you would like to see what they look like and how they function:
http://flexmort.com/cuddle-cots/
https://caringcradle.com/ ”
I reached out to Tiffany to ask permission to share this story because I believe there mission is so wonderful. Please take a moment to lift this family up in prayer. Then, reach into your wallets and help them meet their goal, so others are given the time to grieve. Please, every dollars matters, so give up your Starbucks today and help them remember Jace in this very special way. Click here to Donate Now.
I knew what happened to this family and have friends who have had similar stories and I cried as I read Tiffany’s words. I hope that you can put yourself in their shoes and realize how much those extra moments would have helped.
Thank you for always supporting me and remember, in the midst of chaos, sparkle. Don’t let life dull your shine.
Much Love,
The Manicured Mom
