Josie’s Wind Chimes of Hope Fund honors the memory of our beloved Josie by bringing comfort, peace, and remembrance to families in the Down syndrome community who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

The day Josie was born, she started proving all of the doctors wrong. Her first major accomplishment was not needing intubation after birth—and after just a few days on CPAP, she transitioned to a nasal cannula.

Her first three months were spent in the step-down unit from the NICU, working on feeding and growing. Her goal after birth was to grow big enough for cardiac interventions. Doctors said she would absolutely not grow enough in time to need a repair. Yet, at just three months old, she proved them wrong again, undergoing her first cardiac intervention—a transcatheter procedure to place internal flow restrictors, hoping to buy time and growth before open-heart surgery.

It was both exciting and terrifying. Unfortunately, she faced many post-op complications. The first was a blood clot in an arterial line in her arm, which caused her to lose perfusion to her arm and hand. She then faced strokes, seizures, and meningitis.

Josie conquered those complications like a true T21 warrior. You would have never known, from her spirit or personality, that she had endured so many horrific health challenges. She was feisty, strong, opinionated, sweet, and so, so resilient.

We were finally turning a corner, preparing to come home, when she developed pneumonia and spent a few weeks intubated. She fought as hard as ever, responding to treatment and making progress, until she was able to be extubated. We spent a precious week enjoying snuggles and stability before cardiology said it was time for another cath procedure to prepare for open-heart surgery.

Ultimately, she went into cardiac arrest, landing her on ECMO. But if you thought she was done fighting—you were wrong. She came off ECMO after a week and began to show signs of improvement.

Unfortunately, a week later, Josie told us she had fought hard enough for six months. Our hearts shattered on June 24, 2025, when she was called home to Jesus and became the most beautiful angel.

Our solace comes from the love that Josie inspired in the hearts of those who never even had the chance to meet her. Her spirit shone through every photo shared, and every story told took you along on the journey with her—you couldn’t help but be her biggest fan. The Down Syndrome Network of Onslow & Carteret Counties (DSNOCC) has blessed our family by providing an opportunity to continue her legacy—to share her story, her strength, and to shout her worth and the worth of all individuals with Down syndrome, even after they are physically gone. “With every chime, Josie’s love, strength, and hope continue to echo through the world.” Love, Mom

Families who wish to receive or dedicate a wind chime in memory of their baby are invited to use the simple request form linked below.

Josie’s Wind Chimes of Hope Fund honors the memory of our beloved Josie by bringing comfort, peace, and remembrance to families who have experienced the loss of a precious baby under the age of one with Down syndrome.

Each wind chime is a symbol of love that continues to resonate — a gentle reminder that their child’s spirit still sings in the breeze.

Through this gift of hope, we seek to offer solace, connection, and the assurance that no family walks this path of loss alone.

The purpose of Josie’s Wind Chimes of Hope Fund is to bring comfort and healing to grieving families through meaningful remembrance. By gifting a wind chime to families who have lost a baby under the age of one with Down syndrome, we hope to create lasting symbols of love, connection, and hope. Each chime serves as a gentle reminder that their child’s life — no matter how brief — made a profound impact and continues to be felt in the hearts of all who loved them.