LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Two years ago, the Black family experienced a tragedy they never thought would be a part of their story.
They were preparing for the arrival of their daughter, decorating her room with elephants. But when it came time for her to enter the world, their daughter Avery was stillborn.
"Her room was completely decorated in elephants, that was the theme and that was the start of it. And as you get into looking more into the elephant, it couldn't be anymore perfect for the situation," Bryan Black said.
This year instead of celebrating their daughter's second birthday with candles on a cake, they celebrated with a memorial.
"With her not being here I can't think of any better way to celebrate her and to remember her and honor her," Katie Black said.
The family said the care they received through the Women's Hospital at Saint Joseph East bereavement department in Lexington comforted them. And now, that is why the Avery Elizabeth Foundation--a foundation created in their daughter's honor--gave back to that same department in the form of a mother and baby elephant sculpture. That fountain sculpture now sits in the courtyard of the the hospital.
Avery's mother Katie said, "we could've really gone the opposite direction in this and I think the care we received there kind of helped inspire us to start this foundation to help keep Avery's memory alive."
The family said infant death and miscarriage is all too common and through the foundation, they want to offer parents the same support they received.
