Daphne's Brave Heart now and always

The brave heart that loved and is loved so deeply.

Daphne made the world a brighter place with her arrival in October of 2024. She gave us all the best snuggles, the biggest smiles and the craziest hair days she possibly could in her short three months.

To keep her light shining, and to help other heart warriors like her, Daphne’s Brave Heart was created. Daphne died on a Thursday, and by that following Monday her memorial fund link was live through Akron Children’s Hospital.

The mission of DBH is to help other families navigating congenital heart defect and disease diagnoses – particularly faced with open-heart surgery – feel seen and supported.

In our first nine days of launching Daphne’s Brave Heart, we raised nearly $11,000. My goal was to raise $13,000 by the date of her celebration of life, in honor of the 13 joy-filled, earth-side weeks our little ducky brought us. By the time her celebration came around, we had raised more than $20,000. And in total, from the launch of DBH on Jan. 27 to today, we’ve raised nearly $25,000.

The generosity of our community has continued to blow us away.

Through donations to Daph’s memorial fund, to purchasing DBH merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags), to supporting us through other collaborations (like our collab with Busy Bee Beading Co. for Daphne’s Heart Collection – learn more at our Facebook page), we can’t thank our community enough.

Daphne’s Brave Heart means so much to me. My daughter isn’t here for me to take care of in the way I expected – I can’t change her diaper, get her dressed, give her a bath, feed her or rock her to sleep. But she’s still here in so many other ways – and Daphne’s Brave Heart is how I can continue to show up for her and take care of her as her mom, and Connor as her dad.

It’s a way for me to pour out all the love I have for her in a tangible way. It’s a way for me to tell more people about Daphne, to say her name and hear others say it, too. It’s a way for her goodness to continue on.

In the early weeks of our loss, someone told us they hate when people say “everything happens for a reason,” and instead they like to look at it as, “what was the reason they existed?” And I really love that reframe.

There is absolutely no reason why Daphne should have died. But what reason were we given her? Why did she exist?

I’ve said before that I had no idea how much of a mark she had made in so many peoples’ lives in her short time here, and I think that speaks volumes to the reason she existed. To who she was and is.

She was meant to bring joy. And she did. She was meant to show us the most pure, unconditional love. And she did. She was meant to create a sense of confidence in us as new parents. And she did. She was meant to show us that trust is sacred. And she did. She was meant to teach me about who I am. And she did.

She was meant to have a greater purpose. And she does.

Daphne and her story has taught hundreds of people already about CHD. Her story has already brought awareness to other first-time (and even second- and third-time) moms asking about CCHD screenings. Her story has brought awareness to so many about the lack of funding for CHD research, and has lit a fire in so many to continue raising awareness and doing their part in working towards a cure and more research.

I don’t think Daphne’s death is meant to be some great lesson. I don’t think Daphne had to die in order for her to make a change in this world. And it sucks that her death is such a defining part of her story. Especially because there is so much more to her story and who she is.

Daphne is and always will be the best parts of us, and to be able to continue to spread the light and love that our sweet girl continues to bring to us means so much. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and our efforts in honoring Daphne and all that she continues to be.

Daphne’s Brave Heart aims to further efforts around research, advocacy and family support for congenital heart defects.

Daphne gave us the biggest smiles and she had the bravest heart. And our mission is to keep spreading big smiles for all the brave hearts.