In Memory of ⚓️ Rhys Edward Wallace ⚓️

On 5.5.23, at 38 weeks pregnant, our precious baby boy, Rhys Edward Wallace, no longer had a heartbeat. We saw our boy 2 days prior in a sonogram. He was perfectly healthy, smiling, growing, and having all the hiccups. On that Friday, I hadn't felt him move for a few hours. I called Shane and asked him to meet me in Labor & Delivery to ensure everything was ok. It had to be ok...we were 14 days away from our due date. Never in a million years did I imagine that something could be wrong. As the nurses and doctors surrounded the hospital bed to deliver the news, I went completely numb. I couldn't think, breath, or process any of the events taking place. How could this be happening? This was MY perfect boy. After what seemed like an eternity, we decided to induce that evening. Rhys was born sleeping on 5.7.23 at 6:53 am weighing 7.29 lbs and 20.75 in long. He was the prefect combination of Mom & Dad. Dads strawberry blonde hair, long legs, and fingers & toes. He had Moms nose, lips, and juicy cheeks. I had spent 38 weeks dreaming of my boy and I finally got to meet him. It was the best and worst moment of my entire life. 

The nurses at Plano Presby will forever hold a special place in our hearts. They took pictures and videos of our moments with Rhys. They cried with us, prayed with us, and listened as we talked about all the moments leading up to meeting our sweet little boy. They made us gifts to remember him by and gave us a Hope Box. When we got home from the hospital, I set it aside. I didn't have the courage to face what was inside. After a few days, I opened the box and was overwhelmed with emotion by the contents inside. The Hope Box encouraged Shane and I to grieve through scripture. It allowed us to feel a part of a community. We weren't alone. There were so many families that had experience the gut-wrenching loss we had.

My journey isn't the journey I had imagined, but it has allowed me to meet so many brave women with a shared experience. It has allowed me to grow closer to God and it has given me a sense of purpose. I can give back to other Mommies just like me and share Rhys' story. I can provide a sense of comfort and peace as other women and myself navigate the unknown.