The "who, what and why" of it all

Stillbirth is the death of an infant in-utero after 20 completed gestational weeks.  The majority of these deaths occur at or near full term, they are healthy babies that die shortly before or during birth.  More than 26,000 babies are stillborn in the United States each year, that is 70 lives lost everyday.  These deaths are unpredictable, and there are no identifiable risk factors.  They cut across socio-economic classes, races, religions, body types and maternal age groups.  No woman or family is immune.  The delivery medical expenses for a stillbirth can cost upward of $8,000 without insurance.   

The objective in creating Hayden’s Helping Hands is to assist families by paying for all or a portion of the medical expenses associated with delivery of a stillborn.  Our goal for each family we assist, is that they no longer have to see a ‘balance due’ reminder come for the baby they lost.  

Hayden’s Helping Hands is solely supported by donations  and sponsorships.  Our marketing, fundraising and promotions are dependent upon the hard and ethical work of our board members.  Through these fundraisers and sponsorships, funds are created and used to assist families in part of all of their delivery medical expenses.  

If you would like to make a donation, please mail it to:  

Hayden’s Helping Hands 

PO Box 2041 

Clackamas, OR 97015  

If you are making a donation in the memory of a stillborn, please include the baby’s name.

Inaugural Board Meeting

December 2nd marks the inaugural board meeting for Hayden’s Helping Hands, this is a time to make a difference and a time to pay it forward.  The Board of Directors for Hayden’s Helping Hands is created from some of my closest friends.  They are volunteers who are brought together by one common goal; to stand in solidarity with those who have suffered the loss of a stillborn child.  

Board of Directors left to right; Julia Gilbert, Jenny Post, Christine Beltz, Rebekka Hauskins, Amy Stavig, Julia Stavig and not pictured is Holly Yeck.

The new normal

From the moment we entered the emergency room doors on the morning of the 5th of July, we reluctantly knew our lives were forever changed.  At 32 weeks our baby girl, Hayden was stillborn on July 6th.  Our lives were now full of questions, confusion, and heartbreak, real heartbreak.  There are images and sounds that will forever be imbedded into our minds reminding us of the agony we have no choice but to accept.  This hurt never goes away, it only creates a "new normal”. 

However, we have no control of the wind in adverse situations but we can adjust our sails.  So, here starts the inception of Hayden’s Helping Hands.

 This photo was taken 10 days prior to our our loss.