What should have been the day Faith finally met her second son became a moment that changed her family’s life forever. After months of dreaming about holding him, she welcomed baby Colt into the world — but their precious time together lasted only a short while.

Faith Zellers, then 24 and already mother to a young son, discovered she was pregnant again in October 2025. Her due date was set for May 29, 2026. On February 11, 2026, she woke up with mild contractions that gradually intensified. After noticing bleeding, she went to the hospital. Doctors and nurses tried to stop the labor, but she was already 4 cm dilated and in active labor, roughly three months before her due date.

Later that afternoon, around 2 p.m., baby Colt was born extremely premature. A NICU team from Rockford was called to care for him. Despite their efforts, Colt passed away the following day, February 12, 2026.

In the days and weeks that followed, Faith has been trying to piece together what happened. She has expressed a desire for clearer answers about the medical events surrounding the early delivery and her son’s brief life. Obtaining further examinations, records, or reviews has brought unexpected expenses that the family is struggling to manage while also coping with the sudden loss.

The photographs shared by the family show the newborn in a blue crocheted hat and Star Wars-themed blanket, as well as Faith holding him in a hospital gown. Those images capture the only window the family had with their second son.

Premature birth at such an early stage carries high risks, and outcomes can vary widely depending on gestational age, available medical support, and individual circumstances. For parents, the combination of sudden loss and unanswered questions often adds layers of practical and emotional difficulty.

Faith’s story highlights both the fragility of early pregnancy and the ongoing need many families feel for clarity and support after the death of a newborn.

Sources

• GoFundMe: “Help Faith and her family in Baby Colt’s Loss” by Faith Zellers (primary account of the pregnancy, early labor on February 11, 2026, birth of Colt, and his death on February 12, 2026)
• Family-shared photographs accompanying the fundraising page and related social media posts
• General medical context on extreme prematurity and neonatal outcomes (standard neonatal care guidelines)