Where Grief & Joy Collide | Meet Olivia, Ezra, & Alora

Our first birth didn’t go as planned. We lost our son Ezra during labor, and we still have no clear answer as to what happened. We had a planned home birth that turned into a hospital birth because of Ezra’s passing. Alyssa and her husband were the first people in the room to meet him. They carried us through the trauma and loss in those moments, and they are still carrying and walking beside us.

After losing Ezra, my husband and I knew we wanted to try again. It was our way of honoring Ezra. I got pregnant three and a half months postpartum with a little baby girl, Alora Kay.

Her pregnancy and birth experience were terrifying, but peaceful all at the same time. We had weekly MFM appointments, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and I was carrying all of the grief from Ezra still. It was the longest pregnancy of my life, but I learned more about myself and my relationship with the Lord than ever before. I leaned on Him in ways I never have, and took all of my grief, joy, and everything in between right to Him.

Alora’s birth was quick. From the time I was in active labor to her being born was less than two hours. This was wild for me since Ezra’s labor was eighteen hours. I felt God close, and every prayer I prayed over and about my birth was answered. Our nurse that bathed Ezra for us was also the nurse that caught our sweet Alora, and it was such a full circle moment.

If you’re walking through loss, you’re not alone. Birth is beautiful and sacred, even when it holds both heartbreak and redemption. I share my story today in hopes of encouraging someone who needs it.