FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A Fargo couple has turned the tragic loss of their son into a mission to help other families struggling with similar pain.
Kaylee and Josh Jaeger were preparing to be parents for the first time but on the day their son was born, when the doctor told them there was no heartbeat.
Hopeful Heart and Harlynn’s Heart stepped in to help keep the couple busy after their loss. Both are organizations that help families heal after experiencing a miscarriage or the loss of a newborn.
“They provide a community to be a part of,” Kaylee said. “It’s not a community we want to be a part of but they really let us know that we’re not alone and they reached out to give us that opportunity to connect and share stories about our children.”
The support from both organizations inspired the Jaeger’s to start making efforts to help other families cope with a loss comparable to their own, KVRR-TV reported.
“We just knew that if this can happen to us, it can happen to someone else,” she said. “So how can we make sure that they don’t feel alone and they get the same love and support that we got?”
The couple turned to friends and family at CrossFit 701, their co-owned gym in Fargo, to help raise money in honor of their son, Lawrence Alexander. The supporters rowed, jumped and lifted their way through a workout.
“The workout is completely after his birthday and his weight and how long he was,” Kaylee said.
A set of reps and weights is even managing to provide a little reminder for the family who is still trying to heal.
“People continue to remind us that we’ve got a kid too, that we’re parents. I think through the holidays it will remind us, it’ll be tough but this workout is kind of a brand, something we can wear on our sleeve, that we have something to remember him by,” Josh said.
The Jaeger’s said they hope their story can inspire other families struggling with a loss by reminding them that there are people out there to lean on.
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Information from: KVRR-TV, http://kftv.com
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