People often say, “Losing a child is the hardest thing a parent could ever experience.” But “hard” doesn’t begin to capture the emotional, mental, and physical anguish that follows such a loss.
Our journey with grief began in 2017, when we experienced our first miscarriage. The excitement of new life was quickly replaced by sorrow and questions we couldn’t answer.
In 2020, we faced another heartbreak with the loss of our son, Levi Jeren Burton. Born on August 10—just one week shy of the third trimester—Levi spent a short time in the NICU before transitioning to his forever home in heaven. Our world shifted completely. The “what ifs” haunted us, but we came to realize: nothing we did or didn’t do caused this.
Not a day goes by that we don’t think of Levi—or the baby we lost in 2017. Their lives, though brief, continue to shape us. To honor them, we founded the Levi J. Burton Foundation—a safe place where grieving parents can find community, compassion, and hope.
Levi’s story—and the loss that came before him—are the heartbeat of this foundation. Through them, we are building a legacy of love and healing, reminding every parent that their child’s life, no matter how brief, has lasting meaning.