Eden River's Little Ducklings

HELP US FLOAT HOPE IN HONOR OF EDEN RIVER!

Eden River was born on 12/12/24 at 23w3d due to PPROM (when your amniotic fluid breaks too early) and a prolapsed umbilical cord. When I lost my water, we were told that Eden had a <1% chance to live, but we trusted God with his life and began to pray for a name for him. When I would pray, I would pray specifically for his lungs because the doctors had explained to us that without adequate fluid to his lungs, they couldn't form normally and that would impact his body's ability to keep him alive whenever he was born. When I was in PT school and we were learning about the anatomy of the lungs, my professor taught me to think of them as an upside down tree. Off of the tree branches are the tiny alveoli sacs that have to pop open like a fruit or flower blooming in order for our lungs to function the right way. One morning when I was praying for his name and lungs God brought me to Genesis 2:8-10 and Revelation 22:1-5 which both talk about the garden of Eden, the tree of life and the river of life. These verses led us to name our boy Eden River to represent his lungs that needed to be a blossoming tree with a river of fluid flowing to them to have life, and more importantly, to represent the hope that God gave us - hope for Eden's life on earth but also hope knowing that regardless of the outcome of his battle, he would be in the perfect garden of Eden in heaven surrounded by trees and rivers and experience complete healing and peace.

We were able to love on our boy in the NICU for two weeks before he quite suddenly declined for unknown reasons and was given to the arms of Jesus in heaven. Although we thought his story would have a different ending, we know his story isn't over and we are carrying on his life through ours. We trust that God, the ultimate physician and perfect author has a greater purpose with Eden's story and so, we continue to share it.

When Eden was in the NICU, one of his respiratory therapists gave him the nickname "little duckling" because he was covered from head to toe in the most beautiful blonde fuzzy hair and really did look like a baby duckling. This nickname and the fact that the race occurs on a river at the White Water Center makes the Duck Race even more special to use because of these connections.

KinderMourn provides hope for bereaved parents, grieving children, and teens by offering support and counseling programs, creating awareness of bereavement issues, and empowering the community to effectively assist those who have suffered an unthinkable loss, like us.

By adopting ducks, KinderMourn will continue to support bereaved families in their grief and all the ways their lives are forever changed because of loss.

Thank you for adopting ducks and floating HOPE for KinderMourn in honor of Eden River!

Love,

Lane, Alli, Rhett & Jack