Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre Apparicio and Bree Anderson.
Hi Andre and Bree, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
On July 21st my fiancé and I welcomed our twin children. A’sir Averi Apparicio & A’sani Aveiah Apparicio. Both born premature at 24 weeks, we knew surely there was a journey ahead. 8 days later we received a call my daughter wasn’t doing very well, her being the smaller out of the two I was always super concerned already. Unfortunately on July 29th, my daughter had passed away succumbing to an issue dealing with her intestines. Shattered and heartbroken and it being our first daughter this was a blow no one seen coming. We didn’t have much time to even process anything as our son was still in the N.I.C.U. fighting for his life. Planning a funeral for my daughter instead of her first b-day party still bothers me till this day. I remember the pain as a father, I remember thinking about all of the statistics I’ve read that deal with infant mortality, prematurity and virtually all the complications that black women deal with and how close to home it finally had came. This had such an impact on my thought process, belief system and overall mental health I honestly still can’t fathom how I’ve made it this far today. Coming from a background of advocacy, having being impacted by this, losing my daughter to this, my fiancé and I decided after some time we would make an impact on something that had literally impacted us and what seemed like so many others. Going to see my son in the hospital daily for 148 days, we began to find purpose in not only supporting A’sir but one another and eventually our family, friends and also other parents that were dealing with the same things. We began to advocate for better conditions as parents of a child in the N.I.C.U. and also advocate for the nurses and doctors as well. Today we have so many things in motion to support not only ourselves but others that have crossed the lines of infant loss im sure no one wants to take. The first time I ever held my daughter she was already passing away. I never got to hear her voice, but surely she will speak through the work and support we have created. Forever A’sani.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a parent of a child in the N.I.C.U. isn’t an easy task. Especially after already losing one of your children. Everything feels like it’s on high alert. There were numerous procedures A’sir had to go through, even having open-heart surgery. Couple those regular stresses with the fact we are still actively grieving, it begins to tear you down. My fiancé and I have found some peace in starting this organization because it has turned into a community of help and support. Some of the biggest challenges I have is having to relive my daughter’s last day. Other struggles personally I faced and I’m sure my fiancé faced as well was trying to support her and myself through this process mentally. It’s hard to remain positive with so much negative around you. Every day I had to walk past the same office they told me my daughter was passing away… every single day…….
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Asani’s Heartbeat Foundation mission is to ensure parents and families who grieve silently from infant or child loss are holistically supported through peer support groups, therapy and lifelong healing resources of shared experiences.
Maternal Support
Learning the signs of preterm labor and providing members with support packages to ensure their physician is providing full care during pregnancy
Holistic Healing
Assisting families with support groups, mental health resources and holistic well-being circles & activities for healthy living after infant loss. AHF vision is for every family that endures neonatal or infant loss to be able to live healthy life without your loved one and create a safe space to share and remember their loved ones. Our goal is for every member to gain peer support so they are not isolating the sadness of child loss alone.
We not only focus on the parents but also the family as we have seen the toll it has taken on all of our loved ones. We specialize in helping people fine the resources they maybe looking for from everything to just positive support networks to help finding therapists and organizations that help pay for therapy. We highlight the facts that are already there, no scratch that we AMPLIFY the facts that are already there especially the need to help support black women in this most pivotal time. Working closely with M.D. professionals and committee members that will encounter these families we are looking to be as supportive and informational we possibly can be. With us being both advocates already, we are prepared to use the skills we’ve developed over time to take on a battle we didn’t volunteer for and we are here. Here to speak about these issues, and here to help find solutions to support the family and loved ones of that are in the N.I.C.U. and that have suffered infant loss. If you are reading this, don’t be embarrassed, don’t be ashamed and please know we are here to support you.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If I have any advice with anyone starting an organization it would be what a council member told me when I started my first org that worked with people that are formerly incarcerated like myself, MAKE SURE YOUR PASSION AND YOUR SKILLSET ALIGN. After the feelings subside you are going to need the facts and the skills to articulate them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.asaniheartbeat.org
- Instagram: asaniheartbeatfoundation_
Image Credits
Brandonknoxphotography Kendra Anderson
