Welcome to The Caroline Effect Apparel Fundraiser!

We’re so excited to offer Trisomy families the opportunity to create customized clothing and merchandise that celebrate their child’s beautiful life and lasting impact. These special pieces allow friends and family to carry their light forward, sharing their love and joy wherever they go. Proceeds will benefit The Stella Effect, supporting its mission to uplift Trisomy 13 and 18 families through community, celebration, and advocacy.

Together, we will celebrate and honor our babies with an extra chromosome and keep their love shining. Please join us in celebrating Caroline’s first angel birthday by purchasing something from The Caroline Effect line.

Caroline

Caroline Renee’ was born on December 22, 2023. A few days later, it was discovered that she had full Trisomy 13. The geneticists and doctors told the family to expect her to survive no more than 7 to 10 days. From that moment on, Sweet Caroline began to defy the odds. Among numerous medical conditions, she was born with Cutis aplasia on the back of her head, a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a tumor at the base of her spine and a missing rib. But, through all that, she was able to go home to her brother and two sisters after a 19-day stay in the NICU. It didn’t take long for Sweet Caroline’s parents and family to realize she was a fighter! She continued to slowly make progress. Her Cutis aplasia healed completely, her VSD and tumors remained stable, and her feeding improved daily along with weight gain.

Sweet Caroline had two subsequent stays in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. Both times, her fighting spirit prevailed and she was able to return home to her family. After several instances of severe apnea, Caroline was again admitted to the CTICU on May 26, 2024. During her extended stay, she showed her strength time and time again. Despite several setbacks including two intubations, she celebrated her half-birthday on June 22 with many family members at her bedside. Her final few days in the hospital were the best she’d had in several weeks. She was alert and active and got to spend many hours in the arms of her mom and family.

After 193 “miracle days”, Sweet Caroline quickly leaped into the arms of Jesus as she left this world to be with Him in Heaven on July 2, 2024. There was never a time that her family did not trust God and His plan for her life. Caroline left behind an enduring legacy. She showed all who heard her story and followed her earthly journey, a beautiful representation of God’s mercy and power. For many, her perseverance strengthened their relationship with God. For others, she became the vessel of repair for their own faith. And several have shared testimony of how her journey inspired the very start of their own personal relationship with God.

It is Caroline’s family’s sincere desire that you be blessed and receive personal encouragement from her story. They believe that Sweet Caroline was not only a precious gift from God to them, but that she was a gift to be shared with the world as an example of His grace and goodness. To God Be the Glory!