Hunter’s Hope

04/08/2026

Throw back to April 2023 🥰

He was the most beautiful little meatball—
with a smile full of soul and a laugh that brought tears of pure joy.

We lived in quiet gratitude, knowing God chose us to be part of his life…
but carried a silent grief too—knowing not everyone saw the light we saw in him.

Even on the hardest days, we found joy.
We still do.

Because his worth was never conditional.
It always was. It still is.

And every child deserves to be seen, protected, and valued.

He was worth it then…
and he still is now. 💙🦈💙

04/05/2026

Hoppy Easter 🌻🐰🌻

From our little bunnies to yours!

04/04/2026

Hunter finally got to meet some sharks 🦈 for the first time today!!!!

He and tater had so much fun!

The look on his face in the beginning is priceless! He looked dead at me like Mom! It’s a real shark!

04/03/2026

We often wonder who Hunter would be had he not been injured.

Would he have loved sports?
Would he be wild like his brother, Tater?
Would he still love How to Train Your Dragon and Elmo as much as he does?

These are just a few of the questions that quietly live in the back of our minds.

But one thing we know for certain—
we wouldn’t trade our Hunter for the world. He is perfect in every way.💙

Hunter could easily be the poster child for Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), also known as shaken baby syndrome prevention —a leading cause of fatal head injuries in children under 2.

His story, and the long-term effects he lives with, check nearly every box.

And the hardest truth?
It could have been prevented with proper education and support. 😢

Caused by violent shaking or impact (both of which Hunter endured), Abusive Head Trauma can lead to severe and permanent brain damage, cerebral palsy, blindness, or even death.

Warning signs include:
⚠️ Inconsolable crying
⚠️ Extreme lethargy
⚠️ Vomiting
⚠️ Seizures
⚠️ Trouble breathing

If you ever suspect a child has been shaken, PLEASE call 911 🚨 immediately -DO NOT WAIT! Quick medical intervention can be the difference between life and death.

Doctors must act fast—running CT scans, MRIs, skeletal surveys, and eye exams to detect brain injuries, fractures, or retinal bleeding and begin treatment right away.

For those on the parenting struggle bus we get it! It can be triggering and absolutely overwhelming but PLEASE 🙏🏼 stop 🛑 and think before you do something you may regret the rest of your life.

One moment of frustration can change a life forever—walk away, ask for help, and never shake a child.

We would give anything to be able to go back in time to change what happened to Hunter, but the reality is we can’t. Sadly, the damage is already done. However, together we can make sure it doesn’t happen to another child by raising awareness about Abusive Head Trauma.

Prevention starts with education—
🦈 Learn the signs
🦈 Share Hunter’s story
🦈 Save a life💙

04/02/2026

Through faith we stand.
Through awareness, we protect others. 💙
Even in the darkest moments, God is moving—and the truth still needs to be told. 🙏

We have such a bittersweet relationship with April. She’s a sneaky one—always creeping up on us. Then bam… there she is, reminding us it’s Child Abuse Prevention Month.

So here we are, once again, mustering the courage to speak on the heartbreaking, life-altering reality of child abuse. It is our prayer 🙏 that Hunter’s story impacts others and serves as a sobering reminder to stop and think—before it’s too late.

It’s hard to believe we’re back here a year later.

Last year, our hearts were heavy. This year, things feel different. Prayers are being answered, and the wheels of justice have finally begun to creak forward. To God be the glory!

Parenting can be overwhelming—but taking it out on a defenseless child is never the answer.

On October 11, 2022, at just 6 weeks and 4 days old, weighing only 11.24 pounds, Hunter suffered Abusive Head Trauma in Chincoteague, Virginia. His life was forever changed.

Every year in the U.S., over 1,300 Abusive Head Trauma cases of like Hunter’s are reported. 1 in 4 victims die from their injuries. 80% or more suffer lifelong disabilities—including brain injury 🧠, cerebral palsy ♿, blindness 👁️, and learning disorders 📚.

Hunter has all four. 💔

Signs and symptoms of AHT (Shaken Baby Syndrome) include:

• Extreme irritability or lethargy
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Vomiting or seizures
• Inability to stay awake or eat

When a child survives AHT, families must prepare for a lifetime of complex, often life-threatening care. The average cost exceeds $2.6 million 💰.

Let that sink in.

Hunter was handed a life sentence no child should ever have to endure.

As his parents, we are committed to helping Hunter access to the world around him—to the life he deserves 💙. He fights every single day to regain and relearn the skills that were taken from him. He is smart. He is determined. He is strong. And he is triumphing over tragedy—giving others hope in the face of adversity. ✨

Hunter’s Hope 💙🦈💙

🦈Hope for change
🦈Hope for advocacy
🦈Hope for accountability
🦈Hope for saving other children from a lifetime of pain and struggle

04/01/2026

Grace may have run out, but trust 🤞🏼and believe growth🌻 has not.

When things get stale while the world moves forward it means it’s time to reflect and readjust.

💙🦈💙

03/30/2026

We live in a world where accessible is still treated as optional….

A few months ago we inquired as to why there were no accessible options available for children with additional needs at a new local playground in our community. We were told that those options would be addressed in “phase 2”. It’s truly sad that in this day and age that this is even an issue that has to be addressed.

Accessibility isn’t a privilege. It’s a right.
Whether it’s pools, parks, playgrounds, or everyday services, when accessibility is an afterthought, children like Hunter are left behind.

It’s time to stop designing for “most people” and start designing for everyone.

03/28/2026

For those who planned on attending the upcoming preliminary hearing, we wanted to share a brief update for informational purposes only.

The preliminary hearing set for April 10th has been rescheduled.

We are unable to share additional details at this time, but will provide updates when we are able.

Thank you for continuing to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate through all of this 💙🦈💙.

03/27/2026

💜 Epilepsy Awareness Day 💜

1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy at some point in their life.

Hunter became part of that statistic after suffering non-accidental head trauma that caused a traumatic brain injury. When he arrived at Johns Hopkins, he was seizing so severely they didn’t know if he would make it through the night.

Today, his seizures are managed with medication and a detailed action plan—but this is something he will carry with him for the rest of his life. And because of that, we will always be on guard.

It’s the moments people don’t always see that stay with you. The blank stares, the head nods, the breath holding, the twitching eyes, his hands stretching out. The moments where you call his name, say his best friend’s name, start singing the ABCs—anything to pull him back—and there’s no response.

And then it hits you… no response is a response.

So you steady yourself. You watch the clock. You speak calmly to him, hoping this time will be different, while silently running through his seizure action plan and preparing for what might come next.

The first major episode we ever saw on video happened while we were an hour away at an adoption class. We got a text with this video attached asking, “Is this what his seizures look like?” We dropped everything and rushed back. He had two more that day.

These are the moments we hate the most for him. Because he doesn’t deserve any of this. No child does.

03/24/2026

If you didn’t think you could LOVE november clay any more… let this be your sign — YOU CAN 💙🦈💙

This April, things start to get very real as we begin the true road to justice for Hunter — and truthfully, for his siblings too. I wanted something I could wear that kept my sweet boy close to me through it all, and I could not think of anyone better than November Clay to bring that vision to life.

Most would agree — anything Danielle touches is pure magic. This mama is 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 TALENTED 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. I gave her full creative freedom, and she absolutely delivered. The earrings she created are beyond perfect — a beautiful way to honor and celebrate our sweet boy.

But what truly took my breath away was the meaning behind them. In one of our emails (and I’m pretty sure we both shed a few tears), she shared this along with a photo of the final design:

“I chose the knot because I wanted it to represent the bond that you and your husband have created with that sweet boy — a bond he never would have had without you. The safest bond that cannot be broken.

And of course, the blue heart for Hunter’s favorite colors.”

We are beyond blessed.

If you haven’t already, go show Danielle some Hunter’s Hope love and check out November Clay 💙🦈💙

Stay tuned for PART 2.

I get asked to play a tinyyyy, small part in some really cool things, and this one was no different!

If you haven’t heard the story of Hunter’s Hope, I urge you to follow their page, catch up, and follow along.

So many prayers as this mama Shark enters into the days she prayed would come for justice 💙🦈

Hunter’s Hope ✨

03/21/2026

03/19/2026

Ohhhhhhh Emmmmmm Geeeeeeee 🥰

This picture came up on my memories. All of the glasses he tried on that day were too big, even the smallest ones from Dilly Dallies 😢.

Thankfully, HOOK Optics at An Optical Galleria - Ocean City later hooked him up with the perfect glasses to fit his little face 🥰.

It’s almost time to pay them a visit again! The best of the best!