You Made Me Mom
serving moms who have lost babies during pregnancy or infancy
chapter leaders
Welcome! I am Amy Balentine. I am a follower of Christ, a wife to Adam, and a mother to Teddy, Simon, Thomas, Peter and Goldie and Founder of You Made Me Mom and group leader of the Kansas City chapter. This support group is a result of my experiences with my children who made me mom, but also our Lord, Jesus Christ, who ultimately made me mom.
Amy Balentine
founder
In October 2012, I gave birth to our first child, Theodore (Teddy) Boyd. He is so wonderful. In May 2014, I gave birth to our second child, Simon Adam, who lived 7 glorious days and 22 grace-filled minutes. He died on May 21, 2014. Simon had full Trisomy 13 - typically a life-limiting diagnosis. In November 2014, I gave birth to our third child, Thomas Job. Thomas went to be with our Lord at 13 weeks gestation. I birthed his body via induction and we were able to set eyes on his magnificent body. In September 2015, I gave birth to our fourth son, Peter Simon. He brings us much joy and happiness. In August 2017, I gave birth to our fifth child, our first baby girl, Marigold (Goldie) Joy. Goldie adds a sweetness to our family we didn't know we were missing. In 2020, I miscarried our sixth and seventh children at 5 weeks gestation and thought the growth of our family was complete. However, God had a different plan as we welcomed our eighth child, Elizabeth Victoria in August of 2022.
To read more about my family's story, visit my family's blog or click on the links below to navigate directly to the related story.
I am honored to walk along side each You Made Me Mom mother - experiencing the valley lows and mountain highs is a gift from the Lord. All the glory to God.
HannahWeiland
milford, in group leader
Hello! I’m Hannah Weiland. I am married to Josh and am mama to our sweet boy, Charlie. We live in northern Indiana where my husband pastors a church and I work for an international missions organization.
Our journey with loss began in 2014 and since then we have said goodbye far too early to five little lives. We’ve experienced loss through two ectopic pregnancies, each at 7 weeks, and three miscarriages (13 weeks, 8 weeks, and 7 weeks.) Our son Charlie, born in 2015, is an absolute gift and miracle. I can’t say it was my dream to have one child on this earth but goodness, what a blessing he is.
Through these years of loss and grieving what we thought our family would look like, we have felt and have been carried by the goodness of God. While we would never choose this road, this is our story. I have been honored to be able to walk alongside women facing loss, seeing firsthand how God uses every part of our stories to encourage others and bring him glory. You Made Me Mom has been such a gift in my life and I’m so thankful to be a part of this community.
Alycia Thornton
newton grove, nc group leader
Hello! I’m Alycia Thornton, wife to Eric, and mother to Jackson. We live in Newton Grove, NC, and I’m so honored to open up my home church each month to new friends and moms.
Our son Jackson was born still on April 21, 2020 at 32 weeks. He weighed 5 pounds & .06 ounces and was 18.5 inches long. I noticed a decrease in fetal movement which prompted us to go to the hospital where we learned the heartbreaking news that our son was no longer living.
Jackson’s life was a gift to our family and especially to me. I’m thankful that the Lord allows me to share our story with other mothers who may find themselves in times of grief during their motherhood journey. I’m confident that the women you’ll meet at You Made Me Mom will lift you up, inspire you, and pray for you. Since Jackson passed away, God has blessed me by placing inspiring bereaved moms in my life who are walking alongside me. I would be honored to do the same for you.
Eric and I are thankful to also parent two children here on earth. Jackson's little siblings - Anna Claire and Hampton - were born in 2021 and 2022 and they fill our hearts with so much joy. I work for NC State University and I’m actively involved with my church. Some of my favorite hobbies include gardening, reading, cross stitch, and spending time with our family!
Rachel Van de Burgt
barrhead, alberta, canada group leader
Hello! I’m Rachel van de Burgt. Wife to Ryan, mother of the twins Jantiena Joy & Felicia Faith and the precious baby in heaven Dominique. We live in Mellowdale, close to Barrhead (AB) Canada where my husband works at the CooP Service Center. I work as a full-time mom, writer and education consultant.
We were married for six years and with little hope of being able to have biological children. We had been waiting for adoption for two years, with no response. The day after we received a visit from the social worker we found out that I was pregnant for the first time with eight weeks of pregnancy; after this week, I had a subchorionic bleed. I was on bed rest for the entire pregnancy. At 35 weeks, our daughters were born prematurely. I had the experience of spending two and a half weeks with them in the NICU.
In April 2020, we had the joy of another pregnancy. However, on June 3, after an ultrasound, we heard the news that our little baby's heart was no longer beating. The time it took the ultrasound professional to give me the news seemed like an eternity. I could see on her face that something was going on. Hearing the news that the little heart was not beating anymore was a shock and it seemed that this could never be a reality for me. On June 21st, at home, the water broke, and then Dominique was born. He was born too soon. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can give us real comfort when we feel so powerless and weak. I also had to have a D & C. After the procedure, I prayed with my husband that the Lord would carry us as we left without our baby. Yes! God carried us in His arms, while our legs could not move. We also saw the goodness of God during Dominique’s funeral when our pastor friend and his family said this was a time of “See you later! Not goodbye! We will meet one day again!”
My heart is inclined to listen to and cry with mourning mothers. I will always be praying for pregnant mothers and for mothers who have lost their precious babies. It is a comfort to know that God is always with us. May His Grace fill us with tenderness, kindness and hope when our tears overshadow our vision of eternity. It will be an honour to walk by your side.
To read more about my family's story, visit my blog.
Megan Gamboa
kansas city group leader
megan@youmadememom.com • 832.567.4168
Hello! I am Megan. I am a follower of Jesus, wife to Joshua and mother to Marin (born 2016), Levi (born 2018) and Bennett Eleanor (born 2020). I recently left working full time in hospital as a physical therapist to be a stay at home mom. I went from gait training patients in the ICU to making PBJs and drinking cold coffee because I am busy playing with my girls. I am thrilled to be home and to help with this group as Amy takes a maternity leave.
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Sara DeVoto
Following Logan's death we were excited for another child who left us at 10 weeks into pregnancy. We welcomed our 4th child into our home in 2018. We are now continuing to learn how to parent to both children on this side and the other side of heaven. In processing my grief I have found a new love of writing and speaking to other moms. You can find more of my story at my blog Behind The Willow Trees.
virtual gathering group leader
sara@youmadememom.com • 402.681.1177
I'm Sara DeVoto. My journey to parenthood started with welcoming our oldest in 2013. In 2016 we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of our 2nd child. During delivery Logan suffered an umbilical cord injury and was only able to stay on this side of heaven for 15 hours with us. One month after losing Logan I walked into a strangers home for You Made Me Mom and found a group of moms who understood and allowed me to share my grief in a space I hadn't found with other mom's.
I attended You Made Me Mom in 2018 after the loss of our son, Levi. Levi was diagnosed with trisomy 13 at 11 weeks in utero and we received the awful phrase “I am sorry but your baby is incompatible with life”. I carried Levi to 36.5 weeks and we were able to spend 22 indescribable minutes with our son. My husband and I quietly ushered Levi to the Lord. Levis life and death changed me. Grief has been my constant companion for over 4 years now. As seasons change and life shifts, I am always aware of the missing little boy at my dining table. Life feels a little too quiet and my home a little too clean. My husband and I have found peace and joy knowing that Levi is healed in heaven and we will one day join him in eternity.
Six months after Levis death, I found out I was pregnant with our 3rd baby, Bennett Eleanor. 10 weeks later, she was diagnosed with Turners syndrome, a potentially fatal diagnosis. My heart shattered into million pieces. Trusting the Lord felt dangerous and I struggled with deep anger. Walking into all the same ultrasound rooms and the same boardroom at the specialist felt cruel and too much for my heart to handle. My husband remained steadfast and trusted that we would bring this baby girl home. I carried Bennett to term and we received a normal karyotype on day 10 of her NICU stay. There are no words for the joy I felt. We brought Bennett home 15 months to the day that we left the hospital without our son.
The last 4 years have been filled with deep lows and beautiful highs. As my faith wavered, the Lord was faithful and near. I am honored for the Lord to use Levis story to help another mother who is experiencing baby or infant loss.
You can listen to my whole story on The Joyful Mourning podcast:
