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Aimee Darby

@aimee_darby

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Mama to my angel Eliza & my wild boy Brantley Jesus lover Autism Advocate 🇱🇧🇵🇸
Founder of The Eliza Hope Foundation
@theelizahopefoundation

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Today was the perfect day to write; cloudy, chilly, melancholy and November. I wanted to write something inspired about how I feel 4 years 26 weeks and 5 days without my little girl. But I just stared out of the window willing myself to feel something different something new say something unsaid. November will always be sad. It will always be the culmination of days leading up to Elizas death and the days after. Their is no new word to describe it, no time machine to go back to the days that I long for, it all just stays, with the hope that a new picture or video might be recovered or a long forgotten memory will be remembered or that somehow seeing Eliza in my dreams will be enough.
Recently me and a friend decided to start a child loss group. Since she is new to this life I thought It would help her and I knew it would help me.
We invited a few mamas and we sat together and told our stories. The details were different but the experience was the same. The pain, the disbelief, the feeling that you don’t want to live another moment without them, that’s all still the same. I remember sitting at my first grief group just a few months after Eliza died and looking at the moms there and thinking “how are they not falling apart like me”.
I wanted someone to tell me what was going to happen to me. Was I really going to live? How was I going to ever think about Eliza without wanting to die? I needed to know but no one could tell me. They could only say “you just will.”
Every single morning since November 12, Eliza is the first thing I think of. In the first 3 or 4 years it was a desperate thought, like if you lose sight of your child on the playground. That panic that floods over you as you scream out their name and then you spot them and you can breathe. For me; for us, we can never breathe again.
But now when I wake up and think of E, it’s a little easier. The panic has subsided and sometimes I can even smile thinking of her sweet face. I wish I could tell you how it happened, how one day the room just stopped spinning but as hard as I’ve tried the only thing I know for sure is that those moms were right, with no explanation one day…you just will. 🤍 taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @aimee_darby

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5 years ago

I have had a lot of tattoos done these last 5 years. Each one means something special. Each one is about Eliza. I can't think of a better way to remember her life than having these little memories permanently drawn on my arm. When people ask about them I can carefully go through each one and tell a story. These little pictures that remind me of moments that I may forget if they weren't tattooed on me.
Last night we were having dinner with friends and everyone started talking about getting pinecone tattoos and so this morning Aaron decided today was the day to get his first Eliza tattoo. He has been planning it out for awhile but could never commit. We went back and forth about what he should get, a pinecone a bucket of popcorn, Eliza's name and then I reminded him of the colorful pinwheels that were outside of Eliza's ABA therapy center. They were all different colors and when we would get out of the car every morning she would pull me over to them and guide my hand to spin them all around. I would say each color and spin them... sometimes twice. She would flap her arms and laugh and try her best to say the colors. So that's what we decide... pinwheels.
How grateful will I be when I'm 90 years old and looking down at my arm remembering all the tiny moments of Eliza's life. My biggest accomplishment, my deepest heartbreak and my greatest love... 🤍 taken in Ancient Art Tattoo by @aimee_darby

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5 years ago

10 years old. That's how old she would be. I watch people celebrate their children's birthdays, the cute themes and huge balloon installations. I see the posts about the years going by too fast and wishing they could go back in time for even a moment. But for me I just keep thinking, how do I celebrate an age that never comes. A party that never happens. Gifts that are never given.
Why is it so uncomfortable to celebrate a little girl who should be 10 but didn't get to be?
Can I bake a cake, or buy balloons? Can I retell her birth story or sing happy birthday.
These are the times I get stuck. I question every move, every thought. These are the times when people ask me "what are you going to do on "the day"? and I never have an answer.
I have had wonderful friends who have sat on the beach with me, who have bought balloons, who have sent flowers and gifts and I love it all but none of it feels quite right.
April 12th 2012 was my favorite day. All my hopes and dreams and prayers realized. The most precious little girl had finally arrived.
Now 10 years later I'm still a little lost.
Can we make April 12th a holiday? Can we close schools? Can we tell her story to the world?
We sang a song in church today and their was a line that I kept thinking about,"cause grace rewrote my story I'll testify"
I wrote so many stories for myself, for my life for Eliza's life but of course they weren't really my story. This is my story with all its joy and sorrow. With all its mistakes and all its victories.
So how do I want this story to go, for 20 or 30 or 50 more birthdays?
I want to eat popcorn and cupcakes all day. I want people to send me photos I've forgotten and tell me stories I've never heard. I want to dream about her when I close my eyes.
But most of all I want to spend every April 12th looking for little moments that remind me of Eliza, and her life, and our sometimes sad but mostly beautiful story. 🧡 taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @aimee_darby

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5 years ago

🎉Help us wish our incredible President and Founder, @aimee_darby , a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎂🎈

For the past 10 years, Aimee has poured her heart into creating a place where children with autism can learn, grow, play, and thrive. Because of her vision, hundreds of children and families throughout Hampton Roads have found hope, support, and a community that believes every child deserves the opportunity to shine. ✨
This year, Aimee has ONE BIG BIRTHDAY WISH! 🎁
To FILL THE ROOM at this year’s Eliza Hope Gala as we celebrate 10 incredible years of the Eliza Hope Foundation!🤯🩷

What better birthday gift than a room full of people coming together to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished and the countless lives still waiting to be touched!

🎟️ Help make Aimee’s birthday wish come true! Grab your tickets, invite your friends, and join us for an unforgettable celebration of 10 YEARS OF HOPE! taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @aimee_darby

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8 days ago

The Eliza Hope Foundation provides therapy, activities like Hope Stars and Swim Stars, and support for children with autism and developmental differences, with its 10th Annual Hope Shines Gala taking place on November 13, 2026.

for more info please visit elizahope.org taken in Eliza Hope Foundation by @aimee_darby

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2 months ago

The Eliza Hope Foundation Paddle Board Day 2026 is always a vibe!!! by @aimee_darby

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3 months ago

✨ Your favorite night of the year is back... and this one is extra special. 💙

Join us as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Hope Shines Gala, a decade of hope, impact, and a community that continues to show up for individuals with autism and their families.

Spend the evening enjoying dinner, dancing, live entertainment, inspiring stories, and unforgettable live & silent auctions, all while helping fund life-changing programs across Hampton Roads.

Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or you’re joining us for the first time, this is a night you won’t want to miss.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now. Grab yours before this milestone celebration sells out!
📍 Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort 🗓️ Friday, November 13, 2026
Together, we ignite hope. 💙

#HopeShinesGala #ElizaHopeFoundation #TogetherWeIgniteHope #AutismSupport #HamptonRoads by @aimee_darby

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3 months ago

✨ We can’t wait to see YOU!✨

The official Hope Shines 2026 website is now LIVE, and we cannot wait to celebrate with you 💫

Mark your calendars & get your tix early for Friday, November 13, 2026, for the 10th Annual Hope Shines Gala, an unforgettable evening celebrating 10 incredible years of hope, love, impact, and community for The Eliza Hope Foundation 💙

Because of YOU, families in our community continue to receive support, resources, opportunities, and a place where hope truly shines. This milestone year is going to be our most meaningful celebration yet… and trust us, you do not want to miss it ✨

🎟 Tickets are officially on sale (link in bio) 🤍 Sponsorship opportunities are now open ✨ A beautiful night filled with purpose, celebration, and so much heart awaits

Thank you for standing beside us over the last 10 years. We are beyond honored to celebrate this milestone together and continue building an even brighter future for the families we serve.

We’ll see you there 💫 taken in Eliza Hope Foundation by @aimee_darby

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5 months ago

She made me a mama. 💛

And although I would give anything to have her here, I am so thankful that Eliza’s life became something so much bigger than our loss. Through her, we have been able to support, love, and walk alongside so many other mamas and families navigating hard seasons, grief, diagnoses, uncertainty, and heartbreak. 🦋

On a day that celebrates moms, I think about my TRIBE. The moms carrying invisible pain. The moms missing their babies. The moms trying to hold it together underneath their smiles. Today, I celebrate us and our angels.
To all my mommy friends, Happy Mother’s Day. May you always find patience in the chaos, kindness in your words, and joy in the middle of it all.

I love you, Eliza. I miss you every second of every day. You were such a miracle, and I am forever blessed to be your mama. 💛

No matter how many days, months, or years go by, today will always feel a little harder. I’ll forever wish for another tiny handprint on a coffee mug, another scribbled construction paper card, another hug.
But because of you, sweet girl, so many families have found hope, community, resources, support, and love when they needed it most. Your light continues to shine through every child, every mama, and every life touched by this mission.
So today, take a moment to be thankful if your road has been a little easier, and be gentle with those who may be struggling silently.

And remember… all of us mamas are just doing the very best we can. 😘 taken in Eliza Hope Foundation by @aimee_darby

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5 months ago

I don’t even know how to fully put this into words… but I am so incredibly thankful for this community 💛

When Eliza passed, you all showed up in ways I will never forget. And the truth is, so often when someone dies, there’s an outpouring of love in the beginning… and then it slowly fades. The world keeps moving, people stop saying their name, and it can feel like they’re being forgotten.

But not here. Not with you.

More than ten years later, Eliza’s name is still being spoken. Her life is still making waves. More people know her, more people are being touched by her sweet little life… and that is something I will never stop being grateful for.
And this weekend… my heart is so full. Thank you to every single person who poured the pink, set up stands, showed up, donated, and helped celebrate her birthday. Seeing her honored in such a beautiful, joyful way means more than I can ever express 💗🍋

Throughout the month of April, as we honor Autism Awareness, I’m reminded of how this community has wrapped its arms around not just me, but so many families walking this journey. The Eliza Hope Foundation exists because of love, because of Eliza… and because of all of you who continue to show up, year after year.

Thank you for never forgetting her. Thank you for helping her light shine on ✨xo, aimee by @aimee_darby

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6 months ago

On the eve of what would have been your 14th birthday, as usual I find myself at a loss for the right words. It’s hard to explain how joy and grief can exist together, but that’s exactly what it feels like.

Tomorrow, friends, family, and even people I’ve never met will be setting up pink lemonade stands all across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chantilly, —and I’m sure places I’m forgetting. All in honor of you and your beautiful life.

Ten years feels like such a long time to be without you, but in that time we’ve built something so special—a legacy I am incredibly proud of.

It feels hard to say this, but there are days I feel a tiny bit of peace knowing that you will never feel sadness, never know disappointment or heartbreak, that you will never see the cruelty of this world. And even though I miss you so deeply how amazing that you only needed four years on earth to make such a huge impact and change so many lives.

You are perfect, my beautiful girl. You have given me more empathy more kindness and more love that I could have ever known. And I promise, you will never, ever be forgotten for as long as the world continues to turn.

Happy Birthday Eliza, you are a dream. taken in Eliza Hope Foundation by @aimee_darby

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6 months ago

Have you heard how we’re celebrating Eliza’s birthday this year? 💗🍋

She would have been 14… 💗
Fourteen. Can you even imagine the kind of teenager she would be? The style, the sass, the laughter… the way she would light up every room just like she always did. We celebrate her the best way we know how… by spreading kindness, inclusion, and love in her honor 🍋💕

Join us for our PINK Lemonade Fundraiser this April. Host your stand on April 12th (or honestly, any day in April!) at your home, a local business, your neighborhood… anywhere you want to spread a little extra kindness.
Stop by to pick up everything you need to make your stand adorable and PINK, of course 🎀

Every sip gives back, helping kiddos like Eliza attend Hope Stars activities and experience the joy, connection, and support they deserve 💗
PINK stands for Promoting Inclusion Neurodiversity Kindness
Let’s turn Virginia Beach PINK for Eliza 💕🍋

#PinkForEliza #ElizaHope #HopeStars #Neurodiversity #InclusionMatters KindnessCounts taken in Eliza Hope Foundation by @aimee_darby

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6 months ago