Lindsey Ogletree never got to see her son Brody outside of a hospital. Little Adalie never got to play with her baby brother, and Lindsey’s husband Cade never got the chance to impart his fatherly wisdom to their boy.
Born with more than a dozen birth defects, the sweet infant spent over a year in the intensive care unit before he passed away at 13 months old. But the family’s time together was no less filled with love, and Brody’s short life did have a beautiful purpose. His mother made sure of that.
Facebook
Despite living through such a tragedy, Lindsey never felt alone during her time in the NICU. Other moms whose own babies fought for their lives alongside Brody were always there, understanding in a way nobody else could. Lindsey will never forget what those friendships meant (and still mean) to her. That’s how she first got the idea to honor Brody’s memory by serving other moms.
Facebook
After Brody’s passing, Lindsey and her new, lifelong friends teamed up to put together surprise gifts for other NICU moms at Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
Facebook
They began filling care packages with anything the new, worried mothers may want or need, including baby blankets, tissues, water tumblers, books, hygiene products, and other comforting items.
Facebook
And on Mother’s Day, they delivered 80 care packages to Medical City Children’s Hospital, showering women they’d never met with love and support from a fellowship they’d never wanted to join, but appreciate all the same. The group has many more deliveries planned for the future and hopes the project will only grow and spread.
Facebook
Lindsey says that in each of these kind gestures, Brody’s memory lives on, strengthening her spirit.
“We are able to help these moms and minister to these families because of Brody,” Lindsey said. “Such a tiny baby, but he’s what started all of this.”
Facebook
“Even though his life was so short and only 13 months, he did so much in those 13 months and he’s touched so many people and we just want to keep that going.”
Facebook
To turn your own personal tragedy into a mission to help others in your position is such a compassionate, loving thing to do. It may not have been the Mother’s Day Lindsey pictured when Brody was still here, but something tells us it was her most memorable yet. Rest in peace, sweet Brody. You were – and are – so loved.
Share this story to help spread Lindsey’s initiative and honor Brody’s memory.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.