Baby Irenaea Gardner Memorial & Family Care Fund

Peter and Anna-Marie Gardner lost their first child, Irenaea Marie, on June 29th. Irenaea passed away at full term during labor. This deep sorrow came without warning after a perfectly healthy pregnancy.

As Anna-Marie's sister, my heart is breaking for her and Peter. They have just come home without the little girl they have been so excited to see for 9 months.

As I have seen them hold her body with such tenderness and love and return home without her, I keep remembering joy, care, and expectation with which they prepared for this little one. I think about the safest carseat that has been in the car for weeks, the perfect bag packed with baby clothes to take her home in, even the perfectly researched baby diaper bin sitting at the ready. I remember Anna glowing with happiness at the baby shower, her joy at Irenaea's first kick, her delight when the baby bump finally showed, exuberance about the baby ultrasound pictures. Anna was even half-gleeful about morning sickness because it meant that the baby was coming.

Now they are without the baby they care so much for, with a grief that will last until they are reunited with her in God's love.

I am reaching out to you to join me in showering this sweet couple with love as they mourn the death of little Irenaea Marie.

Please pray for their healing and joy. Please also consider bringing a meal (sign up using Give InKind) or donating to cover expenses. The monies raised here will go to Anna and Peter to use at their discretion for the expenses such as the following:

• Funeral expenses (now covered)
• Medical expenses (now covered) 
• Travel expenses for close relatives to attend the funeral
• Grief therapy
• Self-care/household help