WakeMed ceremony lets parents honor lost newborns

A 34-year tradition continues at WakeMed on Monday evening to honor families who lost a newborn due to complications.

A new family joined that list this year after losing three precious lives.

In January, Jonathan and Stacy Holley discovered they were pregnant with naturally conceived triplets.

“It was one of those things, we were ecstatic and scared and all kinds of feelings at once,” Stacy Holley said.

It was a high-risk pregnancy that required special care.

At 22 weeks, the couple found out there was an issue.

Rushed to WakeMed, Stacy had an emergency C-section delivery.

“They were just over a pound each, so they were tiny,” Jonathan Holley said.

The triplets needed surgery in hope of saving their lives.

Soon after, the couple were rushed in to see them. They were joined by Mallory Magelli McKeown, a trained chaplain who now uses that experience as a patient navigator at the hospital.

The new position is funded by donations through the WakeMed Foundation.

“Putting the effort in the resources into caring for people during the most difficult and also the most wonderful times of their lives,” Magelli McKeown said.

“She was there as we held our baby, as he died,” Stacy Holley said.

All three died.

Magelli McKeown persuaded the couple to molds and other mementos made to remember their sons: Wright, Graham and Ford.

“Those are our favorite things we have now,” Jonathan Holley said.

The couple are working to raise $25,000 for grieving programs at WakeMed, and they're looking forward to the Love Light tree program. On Dec. 9, the hospital will host a gathering for other families who grieve as well as doctors and nurses.

“They are part of our family now,” Stacy Holley said. “So we have the community that we weren't looking for, but we found it and we are so grateful.”

The Love Light Tree Lighting ceremony is also a donation drive for the Children's Hospital to help fund programs and services like the patient navigator program.