In loving memory of Baby Chaz

Baby Chaz’s story and his family have a very special place in our hearts here at True North Birth Center.

 

Their story starts with a routine fetal anatomy scan at 20 weeks. Baby’s heart appeared abnormal and needed additional assessment. Throughout the next few months, the family left True North for higher, more comprehensive care that included multiple visits with perinatologists and pediatric cardiologists. They eventually heard news no family wants to hear – their sweet baby boy had a severely compromised heart that was likely not compatible with a quality life.

 

Choosing to meet their son, to love and know him for as long as they could, they returned to True North for the remainder of their pregnancy. We planned for an at-home delivery, and Ashley became the primary midwife for the duration of their care. The rest of the pregnancy was straightforward, and at 41 weeks, we decided it was time to encourage labor.

 

Sweet baby Chaz was born at home on 9/13/23 at 22:22:22. Experts cautioned to expect a decline after day three, but Chaz was a strong soul from the moment he was born. This amazing little boy lived a total of 13 days. He left this world the same way he arrived, at home, in his parent’s arms, and surrounded by midwife Ashley and many who loved him. While we wish we could have had more time with him, he touched and impacted so many lives in his brief time on earth. He is so deeply loved and continues to show up in our lives every day.

While this was a difficult time for us all, we feel so blessed to have connected with this family, and we ask for your help in supporting them. Additionally to this GoFundMe, we have bracelets available for a minimum $5 donation. All proceeds from the bracelet fundraiser and GoFundMe go directly to Chaz’s family for his parents and two older sisters. As native Alaskans, his family’s hope is to return him to his native land, which will require complicated travel for the entire family, to give baby Chaz a proper afterlife celebration.

 

Please Venmo @truenorthbirthcenter to donate and order bracelets. The bracelets are also available to purchase and pick up at the birth center. Please include your shipping address if you’d prefer to have them mailed for an additional fee. 

 

Thank you for all you do to support True North Birth Center, and a special thank you for helping us support this beloved family and Chaz’s memory.