OUR STORY

July 8, 2022 was the day God would hand us some of the hardest news Jared or I have ever been given and could ever imagine getting. I was 19 weeks pregnant at the time and excited for the Anatomy Scan. Jared and I took Mason (our 4-year-old son) with us to this appointment as he was so excited to see the baby that is in mama’s tummy.

The appointment started out as usual. The lady performing the anatomy scan was so great at explaining everything and told us if there was something concerning she would inform us as the scan went on. Definitely not something that I thought we would hear. As she began scanning, she showed us his legs, arms, and head and then we heard the words, “we need to have a serious conversation now”.

Honestly, at first, I didn’t process what she was saying but then realized she was serious. She told us it looked as though our baby, which we would later in the appointment find out was a boy, had anencephaly and possible markers for trisomy 18. She stepped out of the room to call my doctor, and as I processed what she had said I began to weep.

On July 21, 2022 we saw the Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor who spent the first 45 minutes or so doing a very thorough scan. Within the first 5-10 minutes of meeting with the doctor, he was able to confidently confirm that he did not see signs of Trisomy 18 or Anencephaly but based on what he was seeing our son still had a terminal prognosis due to craniofacial abnormalities. After further evaluation the doctor told us he was pretty confident Amniotic Band Syndrome was Jace’s diagnosis and the cause of his craniofacial abnormalities.

The Lord allowed me to carry Jace 29 weeks and 4 days. I went into labor (which had never happened with my other pregnancies) and Jace Michael Akers was born alive, via C-Section, on September 19, 2022 at 8:51 p.m. The Lord gifted us 8.5 precious hours with our boy. He was able to meet his big brother and sister as well as other family members. On September 20, 2022 at 5:23 a.m., in his earthly father’s arms, he passed into his Heavenly Father’s arms. The Lord’s graciousness, provision, and faithfulness is woven so much throughout Jace’s story but especially in his delivery and short but very meaningful life.

We are approaching Jace's 4th Birthday and Heavenly Healed day (September 19 and September 20). The Lord has been so kind and patient to us in these last four years. Grief lingers but it doesn't come barreling through as it once did. We miss Jace daily and see how he would easily fit into our daily life but continue to be immensely grateful for the way the Lord has used His life to change our lives for the better and draw us nearer to Him. When I look around, whether my circumstances are good or bad, I look for the hand of my Lord and Saviour in the midst of it. What is He trying to teach me? Where is He calling me? How can I use this to bring Him glory? I'd loved to tell you I thought of such things before losing Jace but honestly, it wasn't as often as I do now. Life is so precious and but a mist in the grand schemes of eternity and I want to run the race the Lord has given me well and for His glory alone, whatever He asks of me may I do with open hands and an obedient heart. This is the impact Jace's life has had on me as his mother, and I hope and pray on others as well.

WHY DONATE?

As the Lord guided our family through the valley of the shadow of death we never once felt forgotten or unseen by our Heavenly Father. He provided all we needed and answered so many prayers, many in much different ways than we would have but we are not God and His ways are so much better than ours, even when we cannot see it. One of the biggest ways He carried us through that valley and continues to encourage us when grief comes knocking is through the community that surrounded us. Our community carried our burdens with us as we are commanded to do as believers for one another. "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2 ABEL Speaks was the organization that walked closely with us during our time carrying Jace, bringing him into this world, celebrating his short, but very impactful life and even to this day. They connected us with individuals who also had chosen to carry a child with a life limiting diagnosis and helped us know we weren't alone in this, and our son matters and through his life "though he died, by faith Jace still speaks". Likewise, The Perinatal CARE Foundation is doing this right here in our local community. They are offering support and resources to families walking unimaginable paths of motherhood, whether it be infertility, grieving the loss of a child, preparing to welcome a baby or walking through the postpartum season their mission is to ensure moms and families feel supported, understood, empowered by helping them access the care they need through connection with valuable resources. We know we would not be where we are today if it weren't first for our Gracious, Sovereign, Loving Lord and for the community He provided us with locally through our family, friends and church as well as through Abel Speaks. Your donation will allow mom's and families in the Big Country to receive the community and resources they need, and it will also help families all over the world who have been given a life limiting diagnosis for the child they are carrying to access resources, medical providers and a community who will support them and guide them through the unimaginable path ahead. All money raised in honor of Jace will be split 50/50 between these two organizations that mean a lot to us.

Jace's Race 2026

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7