Recently we were a part of two incredibly special birthdays. They are the birthdays we wished looked different. That instead of memories of chubby cheeks and sweet puckered lips there was a smash cake, candles and #1 balloons. We were beyond honored to have been a small part of the first celebrations of two sweet babies this summer - Gavin & Maggie. While these two sweet babes never knew each other Earth-side, we are confident they were joyfully playing together in heaven as they looked down on the kindness spread as both their families included Worthdays in their celebration.

Sweet baby Gavin who was born sleeping on August 3rd.

While Maggie & Gavin's birthdays were in July and August, it's not ironic that it took us until now to post about the amazing kindness of these families. October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month which makes this story even more special. Like the kids in foster care we serve, many families that have lost a precious child find it incredibly important that the memory of their child is remembered and honored. As a way to honor their children, these families took different routes to help our organization celebrate another child. Maggie's family donated a birthday box for a specific young man who especially needed to know how worthy he was on his 18th birthday. A young man who, because of Maggie and her family, received a celebration and gifts on his birthday instead of being completely forgotten as he had in years past. And Gavin's family chose to ask friends and family for donations to our organization as they remembered him on his birthday. In his memory, these donations will be used to celebrate multiple children who otherwise would not be celebrated. While there are many differences between baby loss and foster care, the lesson lies in that all children - whether here physically or not - need to be remembered and honored. It's about being acknowledged and never forgotten - on big days, like birthdays, and on ordinary days.

Sweet baby Maggie, born July 28th, who passed away 10 days later on August 7th.

Our organization cant quite think of a more selfless and touching honor than what these two families did to celebrate their sweet ones. We know that another family will honor the memory of their sweet babe by donating a November birthday box, too. The honor of families celebrating those walking among us who would otherwise be forgotten as they long for their sweet kids to be here physically is astounding. We are humbled to be a small part of Maggie and Gavin's birthdays, and those who follow behind them, and grateful for your huge contributions to our organization. We remember them!

A small portion of items in the Birthday Box created in memory of Maggie.

A small portion of the items included in one of many boxes that will be created in Gavin's memory as a result of the donations received.

Worthdays is a 501(c)(3) organization that ensures children in our local foster care system are celebrated on important days in their lives. We believe that all children deserve to know just how worthy they are. Learn more at www.facebook.com/worthdays1

In Their Memory