A mother has shared the heartbreaking story of losing one of her twin sons just days before they were due to be born, while celebrating the precious moments she was able to hold him close.

Hayden Lee and his twin brother, Ryder Scott, were delivered at 35 weeks and five days. Hayden was born peacefully at 6:35 p.m. on April 7—just one minute after his brother.

Only five days earlier, the family had attended a routine ultrasound and biophysical profile, where they were reassured that both babies appeared to be doing well. But during a follow-up appointment on April 7, everything changed.

Doctors discovered that Hayden’s heart had stopped after his blood supply was unexpectedly interrupted. The news came as a devastating shock to his parents, who were only nine days away from their scheduled C-section on April 16.

Sharing her family’s story, Hayden’s mother wrote:

“My little Hayden Lee was born peacefully on April 7 at 6:35 p.m., one minute after his twin brother Ryder Scott. Hayden and Ryder were born at 35 weeks and 5 days.”

“I had just had an ultrasound and BPP on April 2, where I was told they were both doing fine. I went for my next appointment on April 7, and that’s when I learned his heart had stopped. Everything changed in a single moment. We were only nine days away from meeting both of our boys.”

“I miss my little boy so much.”

Although Hayden’s time was incredibly brief, his parents say he will always be a cherished part of their family. His memory lives on through the love they carry for him every day and through the bond he will forever share with his twin brother.

As they continue to navigate life with both joy and grief, Hayden’s family hopes his story will remind others to treasure every precious moment and to remember the little lives that leave an everlasting mark on the hearts of those who love them.

For his parents, Hayden Lee will always be their beloved son—a little boy whose place in their family can never be replaced, and whose memory will be carried with love forever.

Source: The TEARS Foundation