Image courtesy of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, Photographer: Cassie Mueller
ABOUT US
Forever in Zayne was born out of grief and fostered with hope. When Crystal and Devon lost Zayne, at 31 weeks, their eyes were opened to how common stillbirth really is. 1 in 160 pregnancies ends in stillbirth.
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As they looked further, every person they knew had suffered a pregnancy loss of some kind. 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in loss- either a miscarriage or a stillbirth.
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All this loss… all this grief hidden behind walls we all create… We will begin to stop this insanity.
In the US, we don’t talk about loss, so we are not educated on how to prevent it, so we suffer behind closed doors, often in silence, when it does happen. We will change this.
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By openly discussing miscarriage and stillbirth in every OBGYN office, we can get educational materials into every pregnant person’s hands to assist in preventing loss. We will bring more babies home.
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When the unthinkable does happen, we want everyone to have the support and resources they need to allow them to come out from the darkness. We are a community no one planned to be a part of, but our loss builds an unbreakable bond. We will stand strong together.
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Ask anyone that has experienced stillbirth, we all wish for more time with our babies. Without our help, most grieving parties may only get an hour with their baby. Donating cooling units to hospitals will change this. We will give families more time to grieve.
ABOUT ZAYNE
Zayne Franco Adams… Though he never took a breath on this earth, he was here and loved beyond words.
After years of trying and 7 cycles with a fertility dr, we had our first son on what everyone would call an “uneventful” pregnancy. When we tried for baby # 3, we got pregnant on the first try!! We were ecstatic! We hoped it wouldn’t take years again, but the 1st time? This was a dream come true.
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Week 13… 2nd trimester… I finally let myself let out the breath I was holding. This one was going to stick!
Week 25… past viability day… I finally let myself start planning… even if something went wrong- he would be born …likely end up in the NICU… but he was old enough to survive!
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We started building the crib as we half argued over names. Soon after, my mom started making a quilt with his name on it. We figured out how to install 2 car seats in the cars and still have room for a teenager in the back (we ended up buying a bigger car). We got all the baby stuff out of storage and we registered for a virtual shower in the Covid era. We set up “the boys’ room” for two as the excitement built in our household… everything was perfect. This was truly the happiest we had ever been.
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Week 31… I went in for my regular OB appt and the most gut-wrenching words were uttered- “We can’t find a heartbeat.”
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WHAT?! He was kicking me like crazy 3 hours earlier! Our world stopped then. We even refer to the time before this appt as “the before” and everything else as “the after.”
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The next day we went in for a scheduled C-section and said hello… and goodbye… to our sweet little boy, Zayne Franco Adams.
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Zayne was going to bring a whole new dimension to our family. He was NOT the reserved, quiet guy like our first son. He was going to be a rebel. We could tell just by the way he would kick me and try to bat Devon away when they played during belly lotion time. Our daughter would fist bump him in the womb. I swear he had just started to initiate the fist bumps whenever he heard her voice. Every time I talked to him and asked him to calm down so I could sleep, he would kick harder. My older son would tell my tummy, “Good morning brother” every morning when I woke him up. This started a day of kicks!
During my first pregnancy, Devon would sing, and he would fall asleep in my womb. Zayne seemed always to be dancing to her song.
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It was obvious, that despite the personality differences, Zayne was a physical twin to his older brother. He came in at 3lbs 12 oz and 17 inches long.. Sooooo much hair!!!! And those feet!!! They were huge! We got his footprints at the hospital. You could barely tell the difference in size between the boys’ feet, though they were 3 years apart... and his cute nose... I have loved that nose since it appeared on his 12-week ultrasound. Little known fact, we chose the donor because of his nose.
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He. Was. Just. Perfect.
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ZAYNE- Although we didn’t get to play with you on this side of the womb, I can’t wait to play with you and to love on you in the next realm, son. You will never be forgotten, and we will forever love and live for you since you never had the chance.
We will live Forever In Zayne!
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Crystal Adams
President +
Founding Director
I am determined to bring pregnancy loss out of the shadows through education and support. My wife and I have three children, 2 earthside and 1 in heaven.
Sara Roush
Vice-President +
Secretary
When I was 18, I had a miscarriage, Because of guilt, I didn't speak about this terrible loss for many years. Empowered by my own experience and pain I want to support families through difficult pregnancies or devastating losses.
Carla Petty
Treasurer+
Founding Director
As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, I know firsthand how much miscarriages and stillbirths affect those around the parents. I am committed to supporting the people forgotten in pregnancy loss- the grandparents, the siblings... the "others." I see you and my heart goes out to you.
Nathan Flores
Founding Director
I am an ally and advocate for those who experience pregnancy loss after the loss of my own nephew.
Kerri Kemp
Founding Director
After 10 years, and five pregnancy losses, my drive to help families through difficult times has become my mission. My husband and I have come to the difficult decision that a family of our own was not in God's plan for us, however, we are determined to support families in their journeys.
Devon Adams
Founding Director
I have 2 happy, healthy children who accompany me and my wife earthside. However, it is my beautiful “sleeping” baby Zayne who has ignited a passion inside this organization and me to help other pregnant people and their families in their time of need.
Lilly Pritula
Director
I am passionate about supporting those in their grief and advocacy to bridge the disconnects between loss parents and their experiences in the healthcare system. After losing my first child, Cole at 38 weeks and then suffering a subsequent miscarriage, I deeply understand the delicate balance of grief and love.