Will you help support Jace’s legacy?

Your generous giving allows Abel Speaks to support families like ours. Thank you for your partnership as we seek to ensure that every family will cherish their child’s life and have hope in the midst of sorrow!

July 8, 2022 was the day God would hand us some of the hardest news Jared or I have ever been given and could ever imagine getting. I was 19 weeks pregnant at the time and excited for the Anatomy Scan. Jared and I took Mason (our 4-year-old son) with us to this appointment as he was so excited to see the baby that is in mama’s tummy.

The appointment started out as usual. The lady performing the anatomy scan was so great at explaining everything and told us if there was something concerning she would inform us as the scan went on. Definitely not something that I thought we would hear. As she began scanning, she showed us his legs and an angle of his head and then we heard the words, “we need to have a serious conversation now”.

Honestly, at first, I didn’t process what she was saying but then realized she was serious. She told us it looked as though our baby, which we would later in the appointment find out it was a boy, had anencephaly and possible markers for trisomy 18. She stepped out of the room to call my doctor, and as I processed what she had said I began to weep.

On July 21, 2022 we saw the Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor who spent the first 45 minutes or so doing a very thorough scan. Within the first 5-10 minutes of meeting with the doctor he was able to confidently confirm that he did not see signs of Trisomy 18 or Anencephaly but based on what he was seeing our son still had a terminal prognosis due to craniofacial abnormalities. After further evaluation the doctor told us he was pretty confident Amniotic Band Syndrome was Jace’s diagnosis and the cause of his craniofacial abnormalities.

The Lord allowed me to carry Jace 29 weeks and 4 days. At that time I went into labor (which had never happened with my other pregnancies) and Jace Michael Akers was born alive, via C-Section, on September 19, 2022 at 8:51 p.m. The Lord gifted us 8.5 precious hours with our boy. He was able to meet his big brother and sister as well as other family members. On September 20, 2022 at 5:23 a.m., in his earthly father’s arms, he passed into his Heavently Father’s arms. The Lord’s graciousness, provision, and faithfulness is woven so much throughout Jace’s story but especially in his delivery and short but very meaningful life.

It’s hard to believe we are celebrating Jace’s 2nd birthday and 2nd anniversary of his heavenly healed day. Life doesn’t stop even though it sure feels like it should. In the last two years the Lord has taught us that joy and grief can co-exist and that Jace’s life and our testimony isn’t for nothing and we continue to pray it brings God glory and points others to the hope we have in Christ and Christ Alone.

Abel Speaks is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

2001 W Plano Pkwy, Suite 3405 Plano, TX 75075

(972) 688-6405

Will you help support Jace’s legacy?

Your generous giving allows Abel Speaks to support families like ours. Thank you for your partnership as we seek to ensure that every family will cherish their child’s life and have hope in the midst of sorrow!

July 8, 2022 was the day God would hand us some of the hardest news Jared or I have ever been given and could ever imagine getting. I was 19 weeks pregnant at the time and excited for the Anatomy Scan. Jared and I took Mason (our 4-year-old son) with us to this appointment as he was so excited to see the baby that is in mama’s tummy.

The appointment started out as usual. The lady performing the anatomy scan was so great at explaining everything and told us if there was something concerning she would inform us as the scan went on. Definitely not something that I thought we would hear. As she began scanning, she showed us his legs and an angle of his head and then we heard the words, “we need to have a serious conversation now”.

Honestly, at first, I didn’t process what she was saying but then realized she was serious. She told us it looked as though our baby, which we would later in the appointment find out it was a boy, had anencephaly and possible markers for trisomy 18. She stepped out of the room to call my doctor, and as I processed what she had said I began to weep.

On July 21, 2022 we saw the Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor who spent the first 45 minutes or so doing a very thorough scan. Within the first 5-10 minutes of meeting with the doctor he was able to confidently confirm that he did not see signs of Trisomy 18 or Anencephaly but based on what he was seeing our son still had a terminal prognosis due to craniofacial abnormalities. After further evaluation the doctor told us he was pretty confident Amniotic Band Syndrome was Jace’s diagnosis and the cause of his craniofacial abnormalities.

The Lord allowed me to carry Jace 29 weeks and 4 days. At that time I went into labor (which had never happened with my other pregnancies) and Jace Michael Akers was born alive, via C-Section, on September 19, 2022 at 8:51 p.m. The Lord gifted us 8.5 precious hours with our boy. He was able to meet his big brother and sister as well as other family members. On September 20, 2022 at 5:23 a.m., in his earthly father’s arms, he passed into his Heavently Father’s arms. The Lord’s graciousness, provision, and faithfulness is woven so much throughout Jace’s story but especially in his delivery and short but very meaningful life.

It’s hard to believe we are celebrating Jace’s 2nd birthday and 2nd anniversary of his heavenly healed day. Life doesn’t stop even though it sure feels like it should. In the last two years the Lord has taught us that joy and grief can co-exist and that Jace’s life and our testimony isn’t for nothing and we continue to pray it brings God glory and points others to the hope we have in Christ and Christ Alone.

Abel Speaks is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

2001 W Plano Pkwy, Suite 3405 

Plano, TX 75075

(972) 688-6405