The Elephant Run 5K, Steven Michael's Mile and Willow's Fun Run

 
Join my team and help raise funds and awareness for
 Forget-Me-Not Baskets.

Forget-Me-Not Baskets provides bereavement items to families who have experienced a loss during pregnancy or childbirth. They have donated over 10,500 baskets to over 65 hospitals and obstetric offices nationwide, while concentrating mostly in Ohio. 

Each July, Forget-Me-Not Baskets hosts an Elephant Run 5K, 1 Mile and Kids Run.  I am raising funds to support their mission and I would love for you to join my team! This race is so much more than just a race, it's also a day of remembrance for 100's of families.  In 2023, The Elephant Run SOLD OUT, hosting 988 race participants and 100's of spectators. You won't want to miss out! Together we can raise fund and race/walk together on race day.  

Thank you for considering joining my team.  All proceeds will go back to providing bereavement items for parents, siblings and grandparents.  

No donation is too small and together, we can make a difference. 
 
Thank you for your support.

Our greatest joy and excitement - the anticipation of your little life and the bright future we dreamed up for you.
 
Our deepest pain and sorrow - letting you go before any of those dreams could come to fruition.
 
Our sweet baby girl, Lily Ellen Smith, was born at 12:37 p.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025 with a full head of beautiful, strawberry blond hair — the first thing I noticed about her as they lifted her above the c-section drape so we could see her angelic face.
 
When we arrived at the hospital in labor, we did not anticipate how quickly things would turn. Lily’s heart rate was measuring low enough to cause concern. My water was broken in an effort to speed up labor, but there was evidence of placental abruption so it was decided a c-section would be the best route to make sure baby girl would arrive safely. While partial abruption is not uncommon, complete abruption is more rare, and we were, unfortunately, among the fewer in the more severe category. 
 
Baby Lily was born with a heart rate only in the 20s and immediately rushed into resuscitation efforts for the following 45 minutes while I was being sewn back up. Her daddy got to be with her as they performed chest compressions on her precious little body, and I just pleaded the whole time “God, please let her be okay, just let her be okay,” but due to the complete detachment of the placenta, our sweet little girl had been without oxygen for too long and swallowed too much blood.
 
This is not the kind of “hard” we had prepared for. We had taken all the educational classes, read books, and listened to podcasts to be as ready as we could be for the inevitable sleepless nights, new routines, and adjustments to life as new parents. Instead, we’re facing a “hard” of sleepless nights from grief and empty arms where you should be. The silence is so much louder than your cries could’ve ever been. Instead of planning for your future, we’re now planning for your funeral.
 
For 38 weeks and 5 days I carried you with me. I felt your little kicks and rolls and hiccups. I prayed for you and dreamed of what life was going to be like once you joined us.
 
The words that keep popping up in my mind are “this wasn’t how it was supposed to be,” and while that may be true from a parent’s earthly perspective, I’m also reminded that this did not surprise our Heavenly Father. And while He knew this would be the outcome, He is weeping with us, as heartbroken as we are. This side of Heaven we will likely never understand the reason God allowed this to happen, but we know that He is still good even when the circumstances are not.
 
So many of you have reached out already offering love, support, condolences, and prayer. Please know that every one of those messages have been appreciated even if we have not responded. We’ve heard it takes a village to raise a child; we’re learning it also takes a village when you lose one. The outpouring of love and support we’ve already experienced tells us we are not alone, so thank you all.
 
We are surrounded by the absolute best support system in our families as well. We have the most loving parents and siblings who have done so much already to help us in so many ways, from near and far. We cannot thank them enough for their care.
 
To our sweet baby girl, you have forever changed us. We will never stop wondering what life would’ve been like if things had turned out differently. We’ll always wonder what your giggle would’ve sounded like and what color eyes you’d have. We’ll never stop yearning to hold you in our arms. We love you forever, baby girl 🩷