The story of the Donaldson’s from the founder Jennifer Donaldson.

My husband and I started the Blakelyn Foundation after losing our daughter in 2015. Our mission is to help mothers and fathers facing the heartbreak of losing a baby by easing the burden of funeral expenses and medical bills. Out of our own loss has grown a calling— to give back and walk alongside others who are experiencing this unimaginable pain.

In September 2015, our precious baby girl, Blakelyn Paige, was stillborn at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. On that heartbreaking day, we were blessed with the most incredible nurses by our side. One sweet nurse, who had also experienced the loss of her own baby girl, took pictures of us holding Blakelyn for the very first time— photos that we may never have had if not for her. Her presence and understanding made an unbearable moment just a little more bearable.

Our sweet girl was lovingly wrapped in a tiny crochet blanket, with a matching hat and booties. I had been working on a blanket for Blakelyn myself, but sadly wasn’t able to finish in time. That little handmade blanket means so much to me— it’s a reminder that someone took the time and care to make and donate it, not knowing who it would comfort. Along with it, we were given a beautiful memory box, thoughtful cards and the precious photos that our amazing nurse had taken. These gifts became treasures that we carried home with us.

Ever since that day, , I’ve felt an overwhelming pull to give back— to the hospital and to other families walking through the same heartbreaking loss. I began crocheting tiny blankets like the one Blakelyn was wrapped in, complete with matching hats and booties. To keep her memory alive, I named them “Blakelyn Blankets.”

Since losing our daughter, I’ve met several other families who have faced this same pain. I’ve sat with them in the hospital, cried and prayed with them, shared my story and listened to theirs. It has been an honor to give each of them a Blakelyn Blanket as a small gesture of comfort and remembrance.

Still, I felt like I was meant to do more. One morning I woke up with this overwhelming urge to go back to school to become a nurse. I brushed it off at first, until Tyson woke up shortly after and without knowing what I had been thinking, told me that I should go back to school to become a nurse. I now know that the overwhelming urge I felt was the Holy Spirit guiding me.

In December of 2022, I graduated from nursing school, and today I am a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse. I feel so blessed to witness the joy of new life and to help mothers and fathers experience precious firsts with their babies. I am also deeply honored to stand beside grieving parents who face the heartbreak of not being able to bring their little one home.

Though it is never easy to share my story— and I rarely do so without tears— I know that if it brings even one person a measure of comfort, then opening my heart is more than worth it.

We started the Blakelyn Foundation in late 2019 to provide financial support to families facing the dame heartbreak we experienced. Losing a child is devastating, and the weight of worrying about medical and funeral expenses can make it even more difficult. Our mission is to help cover those costs, easing one of the many burdens families face during such a difficult time.

Our Mission

Our mission is to support families after the loss of a baby, whether during pregnancy or within the first year of life. We aim not only to provide financial assistance for medical and funeral expenses, but also to foster a community that reminds families that they are not alone. We are here to be the hands and feet for those who are hurting.