The Butterfly Effect

Grace-Lynn's 23-Day Dance

April 19, 2023 - May 12, 2023

Grace-Lynn's Story

Grace-Lynn was our firstborn, our butterfly, who transformed our lives in just 23 precious days. Born with Trisomy 13, she defied every medical prediction and showed us that love transcends time, that miracles exist in the smallest moments, and that one brief life can create ripples of change that touch countless hearts.

A Miracle Against All Odds

Trisomy 13 occurs in only 1 in 15,000 births. Most babies with this diagnosis don't survive birth. Grace-Lynn lived 23 beautiful days - more than three times the median survival. She was our miracle, our fighter, our living grace.

Station 5: The Number of Grace

In the NICU, Grace-Lynn was placed at Station 5—the biblical number of grace. It wasn’t coincidence. From the moment she arrived, she embodied grace itself, transforming sterile medical spaces into sacred sanctuaries. Her presence calmed every room. Staff witnessed something they couldn’t explain—a peace that radiated from this tiny fighter who defied every limit placed upon her.

Home: Our Sacred 12 Days

After 12 days in the NICU, we brought Grace-Lynn home for 12 more precious days. Perfect symmetry. Equal time in both worlds. Our house filled with worship music, laughter, late-night cuddles, and the pure joy of being a family. Every moment was sacred, every breath a gift we held with trembling gratitude.

The Butterfly Effect

Like a butterfly whose brief life creates endless ripples, Grace-Lynn's 23-day dance continues to transform lives. Her story brings hope to grieving families, showing that even the briefest life can carry eternal significance. One gentle flutter created waves that will never stop spreading.

We share Grace-Lynn's story not just to honor her memory, but to offer hope to other families walking through the valley of loss. Your grief is sacred. Your love is eternal. Your child's life, no matter how brief, carries profound meaning and creates ripples of love that will continue forever.

The Butterfly Effect: Grace-Lynn's Dance

This poem was written for the butterfly release ceremony at Atrium Children's Hospital, where we had the honor of speaking to families who've lost their babies. Every line holds Grace-Lynn's story—the miracle, the heartbreak, the sacred truth that even the briefest life carries eternal significance.

Memories of Grace

Every moment with Grace-Lynn was precious. Her smile that calmed the room, her tiny hands that gripped so tight, the way she knew when we were near. These memories are our treasures.

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These are the moments we hold sacred—the 23 days that changed everything, captured in memories we’ll treasure forever. Photos and memories coming soon