This is my sweet boy, Asher Blase. After three heartbreaking pregnancy losses, we finally conceived our rainbow baby in May 2022. The excitement of pregnancy after loss was overwhelming, but it also brought a lot of anxiety. Every day felt like a delicate balancing act between hope and fear, and I was constantly praying for a smooth and healthy pregnancy. Little did I know, the journey ahead would be filled with unexpected challenges that would test every ounce of my strength as a mother.
At 26 weeks pregnant, I had a routine check-up that seemed normal at first. But soon after, I began feeling uncomfortable, and my health started to deteriorate. By 28 weeks, I was suddenly struck with a severe illness. I contacted my doctor, and they advised me to go to the hospital immediately. I had no idea what was happening, but I knew something was very wrong. After a series of tests, I was diagnosed with sepsis, a life-threatening condition that puts both me and my baby at risk.
During this critical time, I couldn’t help but think of my baby, Asher. I knew I had to fight to stay strong for him, even though I felt so weak. The doctors started IV antibiotics, and I slowly began to feel better. However, as my body began to recover, my pregnancy started to take an unexpected turn. At 30 weeks and 3 days, my water unexpectedly broke. It was a shock, and the fear of losing my baby overwhelmed me.
The doctors and medical team worked quickly to try to delay my labor and give Asher more time to grow inside me. Despite their efforts, labor progressed quickly, and I ended up delivering Asher via an emergency C-section at 35 weeks. He was born at 3 lbs 8 oz, so tiny, so fragile, but so strong. As soon as he was born, he was whisked away to the NICU for immediate care.
The days that followed were some of the most difficult of my life. Seeing my baby hooked up to machines and unable to hold him was heartbreaking. Asher struggled to regulate his body temperature, and his blood sugar levels were unstable. He had jaundice and had to be placed under the bilirubin lights. Every time I saw him in the NICU, it felt like a part of my heart was missing. I just wanted to hold him, to tell him everything would be okay, but instead, I had to watch as he fought for his life, so small and vulnerable.
As the days passed, I began to see signs of hope. Asher was a fighter. Despite all the challenges, he showed incredible strength. The doctors and nurses in the NICU worked tirelessly to stabilize him, and slowly, we started to see progress. He began gaining weight, and his body started to regulate. After 11 long days, he was stable enough to come home, but the road ahead was far from over.
Now, at 3 months old, Asher is thriving. He has overcome so much in such a short amount of time, and I am in awe of how far he’s come. He is growing stronger each day, hitting his milestones, and showing the world just how resilient he is. Watching him grow is the greatest gift I could ever ask for. The joy and love I feel as I watch him develop is indescribable. Every smile, every little laugh, and every new milestone feels like a miracle.
I am so grateful for the medical team that cared for Asher during his time in the NICU. Their expertise, compassion, and dedication saved his life. But beyond that, they gave us hope. They taught us that, even in the darkest moments, there is always light. They reminded us that no matter how small, every victory is worth celebrating.
The NICU journey was not easy, but it has forever changed my perspective on life. It showed me the power of resilience, the strength of the human spirit, and the importance of never giving up. Asher’s journey has been filled with challenges, but it has also been filled with moments of incredible love, hope, and growth.
I look at Asher today and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. He is a testament to the power of love and determination. He has already fought so many battles, and yet, he continues to thrive. I am so proud of him and so thankful for every moment we have together.
As we continue this journey, I know there will be more challenges ahead. But I also know that with the love and support of our family, friends, and medical team, Asher will continue to surprise us with his strength. He is our miracle, and we will never stop fighting for him, just as he has fought for his life every step of the way.
Asher’s story is one of hope, love, and perseverance. It’s a reminder that no matter how difficult the journey may seem, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We are forever grateful for the strength of our little boy, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.
When Kindness Leads the Cheer: Alabama Teens Honor Lives Lost with Grace and Heart.684
Under the glow of Friday night lights in Albertville, Alabama, the sounds of drums and cheers filled the air — the heartbeat of high school football season. But amid the chants and excitement at Asbury High School, a different kind of spirit took center stage. One that had nothing to do with rivalry, victory, or school pride. It was the spirit of
kindness.
That night, the Asbury High School cheerleaders did something unforgettable. Before a packed crowd, they paused the noise, set aside competition, and honored two high school seniors — Ellie Anderson
of Huntsville High School and Kimber Mills of Cleveland High School — both of whom had tragically lost their lives just days earlier.
Their tribute wasn’t about winning or losing. It was about love, empathy, and the deep sense of community that makes Alabama high school football more than just a game.
Ellie Anderson was a bright, spirited senior whose smile could light up any room. She and her sister, Lainey, along with their father, Mark, died in a heartbreaking plane crash the weekend before. Friends and classmates remember Ellie as kind, funny, and full of dreams — a young woman who loved her family deeply and brought joy wherever she went.
Just as the Huntsville community was grieving that devastating loss, another tragedy struck in Cleveland, Alabama. Kimber Mills, a senior known for her warmth and strength, was shot last weekend and passed away only days later. Kimber’s friends describe her as fearless and full of life — a girl who lifted others even when she was struggling herself.
Two young lives. Two families shattered. Two schools in mourning.
But on that football field in Asbury, something beautiful happened.
The cheerleaders — many of whom had never met Ellie or Kimber — decided that grief should not go unnoticed. They wanted to show that compassion can cross school lines, team colors, and town borders. During the game, they held signs, wore ribbons, and led the crowd in a moment of reflection — one that transcended sport and touched every heart in the stands.
As the crowd fell silent, the field seemed to glow a little softer. The cheers quieted. The band hushed. And for a few sacred moments, it wasn’t about touchdowns or trophies. It was about remembering two girls whose lives were cut short and reminding everyone that kindness still matters — perhaps now more than ever.
“It’s not difficult to be kind,” one coach said quietly after the ceremony. “But it takes heart to stop what you’re doing and show it. Those girls from Asbury… they showed what heart looks like.”
Parents in the crowd wiped away tears. Some held their children a little tighter. And for those who knew Ellie and Kimber, the gesture was a balm — a reminder that even in grief, they weren’t alone.
High school football in Alabama has always been about more than the game itself. It’s about community — the kind that fills bleachers on Friday nights, lines parade routes, and prays together when tragedy strikes. And that night, Asbury High’s cheerleaders reminded everyone that sportsmanship doesn’t just happen on the field. It happens in the moments of grace we offer one another.
Their simple act of empathy echoed far beyond the stadium. Photos of the tribute spread across social media, with hundreds of comments pouring in — from parents, students, and even strangers — all expressing gratitude for the girls’ compassion. “What a beautiful reminder of unity,” one comment read. “This is what love looks like in action.”
In a world often divided by competition and conflict, these cheerleaders stood as living proof that kindness needs no scoreboard. Their tribute didn’t erase the pain of loss, but it did something just as powerful — it connected hearts.
Ellie and Kimber will never cheer from the sidelines again, never walk across their graduation stages, never take another photo with their friends. But because of one small group of girls who chose to care, their names were spoken, their memories honored, and their light kept burning.
“Job well done, Asbury,” one teacher wrote afterward. “You showed Alabama — and all of us — what it means to lead with empathy.”
Indeed, what happened on that field wasn’t just a gesture. It was a lesson — one that will linger in the hearts of everyone who witnessed it.
Because long after the lights go out, the scoreboards fade, and the crowd goes home, people will remember that night — the night when cheerleaders from a small-town high school taught the world that compassion, in its purest fo
