When Faye’s parents, Dylan and Kristen, found out they were expecting, they were shocked and nervous. It was already a full house with four children, including a 9-month-old. But it did not take long for their excitement to grow. When Faye was born, her parents took one look and fell in love with their “nosy” baby.

“She was the calmest baby we’ve had, but she was alert. She didn’t sleep much because she always wanted to know what was going on,” Kristen said.

Faye was constantly in observation mode, and the only time she cried was when she was hungry. Kristen, a self-identified “bow mom,” appreciated that Faye did not fuss when she had a bow in her hair. Faye could be seen sporting bows “all day, every day,” Kristen said.

Faye’s happy place was anywhere outdoors. On May 23, 2021, Faye was sitting outside, smiling from ear to ear, and gazing up at the clouds at Kristen’s parents’ house.

“It was such a beautiful and warm night. Faye was so content and happy, just oohing and ahhing at the sky. She looked so peaceful and so beautiful,” Kristen said. “I forever have that little smiling face, looking above, engrained in my head.”

Dylan and Kristen hold onto those memories, especially when they think about what happened later that evening. The couple enjoyed a date night to celebrate their anniversary, and after picking up their children from Kristen’s parents’ house, they started their 15-minute drive home. Thirty seconds after getting on the highway, their whole world flipped upside down when a drunk driver crashed into their car.

To add to the nightmare, two of Faye’s siblings were also rushed to the hospital.

When Kristen saw Faye at Dayton Children’s Hospital, her baby was hooked up to countless cords, machines and a baby warmer.

“I always sang ‘you are my sunshine’ to her, but when singing it to her in the hospital, it was different. The days were so rainy and dark, which was fitting for such a terrible time in our lives. Every time I would sing that song to Faye though, the sun would always start peeking through those dark clouds,” Kristen said.

Ultimately, her siblings survived, but on May 26, 2021, 5-week-old Faye passed away.

In the midst of their sudden grief, Dylan and Kristen remember having a conversation about organ donation with Life Connection of Ohio’s Family Services Coordinators.

Although nothing will take away the pain of losing a child, Dylan and Kristen feel that their daughter’s ability to give the gift of life through organ donation has helped their grief journey.

“It’s mixed emotions. There’s sadness and anger but also happiness that she was able to donate,” Kristen said. “It’s bittersweet.”

Dylan and Kristen wrote to Faye’s recipients, but they have not heard back.

“Just knowing that what she gave is still going strong and that they’re okay would mean so much,” Dylan said.

Kristen often thinks about the peaceful scene at her parents’ house before the crash.

“Looking back at that memory, I know she was talking to angels above,” Kristen said. “While we were in the hospital, I think my aunt who was also my godmother may have come to make sure Faye’s journey to heaven was peaceful. There were so many cloud signs that we saw, almost as if Faye was telling us she was in the clouds and that she was okay.”

Faye, whose name means fairy and faith, still sends her parents signs. They smile every time a rainbow, daisy or yellow butterfly appears, and they did a butterfly release on Faye’s birthday this year.

Faye is remembered every day by her parents and siblings – Emma, Elijah, Carter and Blakely – and even the newest member of the family, Beau. Dylan and Kristen believe Beau, who was due the day before Faye’s birthday, was “sent down by Faye.” Every time he sees a picture of Faye, he kisses it and “just wants to love on it all day long,” Kristen said.

The angelic baby’s spirit shines even brighter than the sun, and she will never be forgotten.

“Although her time was short, the love she brought to the world is immeasurable,” Kristen said.