What started off as a way to dedicate the park bench our families and friends donated in Jude's name and raise money to help support fellow local pregnancy and infant loss families has turned into one of our favorite days of the year.

Our first Flutterby event was in July 2022 at Fernbank Park, at their Riverview Shelter, just around the corner from Jude’s bench. We will always remember that as Flutterby’s first walk: from the shelter to his bench, a short distance, but one that made us emotional all the same as we walked next to people who love our son and help continue his story. At the bench, our family read the e.e. cummings’ poem i carry your heart with me, we poured out our own grateful hearts for all of the support and love we received, talked about our Books on A Bench project, and then headed back to the shelter to play kickball, eat too many snow cones, and announce the winners to the nearly 40 amazing raffle baskets that had been donated.

In 2023, we moved to Miami Whitewater Forest so that we could incorporate a longer walk into our day, as we loved the idea of carrying the love for our babies as we walked in their names. With the help of Mercy McAuley High School’s art class, we started the Flutterby Remembrance Garden and installed it as a surprise at the end of the walk.

As we said when we welcomed people to the walk in 2023, the day is an “and” day; a day that is no one emotion, a whirlwind of happy tears, laughter, reverence, honor, recognition, grief, and so much more. It’s purpose, and connection, and support, for something we will always wish no one ever has to experience firsthand.