MEET THE NICHOLAS FAMILY

We (Cary and Abby) were high school sweethearts who married in 1998 and dreamed of starting a family. However, months and years passed without a pregnancy, and our only option was IVF (in vitro fertilization). Despite the emotional and physical challenges, the joy of finding out we were pregnant made it all worthwhile. Ultrasounds revealed that we were expecting identical twins, Baby A and Baby B. Each visit to the fertility clinic fueled our hopes and dreams for these precious gifts.

Tragically, our hopes were shattered when Abby went into preterm labor at just 22 weeks. On April 12, 2008, Braden Lee and Brody Lee were stillborn, each weighing just under a pound. We are grateful that we had the chance to see and hold our babies, whom we believe were perfect. We look forward to reuniting with Braden and Brody in Heaven.

Our plans for parenting Braden and Brody were far different from what we had imagined, but God had a different path for us. We were blessed with our third son, Bryant, on Mother’s Day in 2012, our fourth son, Barrett, in May 2017, and our fifth son, Brandon, 

in June 2018.

Through our journey, God has opened many doors for me (Abby) to share our story and support others. The Amelia Center connected me with many mothers navigating their own grief, and I’ve had the privilege of mentoring them, helping them understand their emotions and reassuring them they are not alone. The Baby Steps Memorial Run has been a significant part of my healing, and I’m excited to see what each year brings for all our families. Our 11-year-old is proud to be involved in this cause and to celebrate his brothers he never met, and I know the younger boys will feel the same way.