Harrowing doorbell camera footage showed an excited family preparing for the arrival of a new baby… only to return home in despair with an urn full of ashes from the stillbirth.
A couple calling themselves Jessie and Nate, 32, decided to share the shocking clips on TikTok after asking Jessie’s sister and brother-in-law to become godparents to their unborn son, whom they named Matthew.
Jessie’s brother-in-law is clearly excited about the request and can be heard saying, “There must have been some good vibes in there,” as he points to a “Good Vibes” doormat.
The couple from Naples, Florida went to the hospital just before Christmas. Tragically, their long-awaited son was stillborn on December 25.
Later footage, captured by the same doorbell camera, shows the grieving family carrying Matthew’s ashes home in an urn after the child’s cremation.
Footage of the couple leaving Jessie and Nate’s home shows the elated duo looking as happy as can be after being called for help.
Just weeks later, the same happy couple is seen carrying the urn containing Matthew’s remains back home.
Despite the magnitude of the tragedy they faced, Jessie says she still enjoys the excitement her loved ones feel when they are asked to become Matthew’s godparents.
Jessie shared the two clips on her TikTok page, captioning her post: ‘Thanks Ring. We watch this footage often.
“We are so grateful that these moments were captured. I hope that one day I can capture some happy moments too.”
Speak with NewsweekJessie shared that her waters broke on Christmas Eve and what should have been the happiest day of her life turned into a nightmare.
Hospital staff could not find a heartbeat in her baby boy. An ultrasound confirmed he was dead.
She told the newspaper: ‘Our world came crashing down as we struggled with the unimaginable loss, while I was still in labour.’
Matthew was born the next day, on Christmas morning. Nate added: ‘He was perfect in every way. 10 fingers, 10 toes and a head full of thick, curly brown hair.
His 9 pound, 5 ounce frame and 22.5 inch height embodied his rugged presence, [but] despite his perfection he did not breathe.’
The couple spent the day cuddling their baby as family members gathered around the couple, singing and kissing their boy.
Jessie said her waters broke on Christmas Eve and what should have been the happiest day of her life turned into a nightmare
Hospital staff had been unable to find a heartbeat for her baby boy, with an ultrasound confirming he had died. The couple are pictured cradling Matthew after his stillbirth
Jessie added, “We sang to him, held him, and kissed his little fingers and forehead. Nate and I said one last prayer for him before we said our goodbyes as he was being prepared for the funeral home.”
She said the hardest moment was when she saw the nurse cover his crib with a white sheet and wheel him away.
The footage they shared on their joint TikTok page has now been viewed more than 4 million times.
Users commenting on the video clip also noticed that in the second clip, the doormat that read “Good Vibes” had been removed.
Jessie responded to a commenter, “That was the first thing I asked my husband to throw out when we got home.”
The couple spent the day cherishing their time with their baby as family members gathered around the couple, singing and kissing their boy
Someone said, “The fact that the mat was gone was a blow to my stomach. I feel so sorry for this huge loss, Mom. I pray for healing.”
Another added: ‘Matty will be missed forever, the way you loved him was endless. I’m so sorry for the loss of your baby.’
Jessie also told the newspaper that when they got home, their closest friends and family rallied behind the couple.
She said: ‘We held a moving memorial service, which was attended by almost 300 people [and] Matthew’s godparents were given the task of [him] After the service he was taken home in his sweet little urn.’
After the tragic death of their baby boy, the couple has since started their own Matty’s Corner, a personal support group for stillbirths.
Nate said the group “provides comfort to parents who have experienced the great loss of a child.”