Dear Community, we need your help.

Last week, Desserra Small, one of the beloved teachers of Ascension Childcare, and her family arrived at UVMMC eager to welcome her baby boy into the world. Soon after arriving at the hospital, they learned that there had been a placental abruption.

It is with the deepest sadness to share with you all that on Thursday April 25, 2024, Phoenix Michael Knight Ervin was born sleeping at UVMMC at 1:30am.

Desserra and her family need our support. It is our hope to crowd source funds to help Desserra and family with medical expenses, living expenses, and other needs as they navigate unimaginable challenges of loss and heartbreak. It is also our goal to be able to support Desserra in acquiring a reborn doll to aid her in her grief.

Reborn dolls, incredibly realistic baby dolls made to look and feel like actual infants, help mothers to grieve. A reborn doll can help to ease the sorrow of letting go. Research shows that these dolls also allow women a physical, tangible outlet for their grief -- and in a society that expects women to hold in the pain from this kind of trauma and get on with their lives like nothing ever happened, it's incredibly important for the body and mind to be connected.

These dolls can cost anywhere from $500-$5000.

This family is extremely grateful for all of the support and love they have received from their community thus far, and they thank you all for your help. If you are able to donate, or share this link, you can help make a difference for this grieving family.

Thank you