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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

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

: D E A T H / S T O R I E S :

A little glimpse into Death Stories 🤍 (sped up for time’s sake 😂).

It was such an honour to be part of this evening and to share my story with an intimate group of almost 50 people. There’s something so special about bringing people together to talk openly about death, grief, love, and the ways we carry those we’ve lost with us.

A huge thank you to Jenna from @wearealldyingpodcast and Christa @deathsapprentice.ca for creating this space and inviting me to be part of it. It's always my deepest honour to share Zeynah with the world, to speak about grief and the ways it continues to shape our lives, and to connect with others who understand how much these conversations matter.

With tomorrow being PAIL (Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness) Day, this feels especially meaningfulnto share tonight. A moment to honour all the babies who are no longer here, the families who carry their love and their loss, and the little lives that continue to leave an immeasurable mark on this world.

For all my babies who are no longer here, and for every parent who carries this kind of love and grief. You are not forgotten. 💜
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#pailawareness #grieftalk #deathstories #suddenchildloss #bereavedmothers

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🎉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!

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I don’t eat a lot of cake, but 10 years of the Eliza Hope Foundation felt like a pretty good reason. 🎂

I’m proud to serve on the board of an organization that has spent the last decade creating opportunities, resources and support for children with autism and their families right here in our community.

On November 13th, we’ll come together for the 10th Annual Hope Shines Gala to celebrate how far EHF has come and help support the programs and services that allow this work to continue.

I hope you’ll join us 🥰

Tickets are available in @theelizahopefoundation bio or through the Eliza Hope Foundation website under Events.

#elizahopefoundation #hopeshines #virginiabeach

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You haven’t lived until you’ve tasted @bluecowicecream ! 🍦💙

And tomorrow, your scoop gives back! The Pungo location is hosting a fundraiser for @theelizahopefoundation on Tuesday, 9/15.
Stop by anytime from 3–7 PM, grab your favorite flavor, and help support EHF! 💛

Ice cream for a cause? Yes, please. 🍦✨

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Might quit my job to focus on summer

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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

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✨ 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

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WELL OF HOPE CLOSET • NOW OPEN

Beautiful items available for single mommas in need…

Feel free to share our post to spread the word!

Ways to contact for items:
Wellofhopeministries@yahoo.com
Call or text 757-962-0667

Please do not message instagram directly💕

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✨ 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 💫

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What are you doing on Saturday? Come cheer on our Hope Stars Kickball players!⭐️☄️

Thank you @geraldocruz777 for putting up with us during filming😂

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: M O T H E R :

Mother's Day comes in waves this year.

Last Sunday held the quiet weight of a bereaved Mother’s Day - the kind that doesn’t quite fit into cards or flowers. The kind that asks you to hold love and absence in the same breath.

And then Monday…Zeynah turned 13. The day I became a mother. 13 years of loving her.

There’s something about reaching a milestone for a child you can no longer hold in your arms. A coming of age that exists somewhere beyond me, while I remain here, still learning how to mother across that distance.

Because I am her mother. I always will be.

And somewhere beyond what I can see, I hold onto this quiet truth…that the one I carried earthside, will insha'Allah (God-Willing) be the one who carries me home.

And I am also here, in the everyday rhythms of mothering her little sister, my one and only living child. Packing lunches, brushing hair, holding space for big, big feelings you could never imagine from a bereaved sibling, laughter, crying and everything in between. One child I tuck into bed and the other I tuck into my heart.

Two girls. One in the heavens and One in my arms.

And three more I carried for a short time, who didn't quite make it here, but who still belong to me.

This season feels like standing in the in between - not as a place of confusion, but as a place of deep, layered love. Grief and gratitude. Longing and presence. A heart stretched wide enough to carry it all - Alhumdolillah (All Praise to The Most High)

If this day feela complicated for you too, you’re not alone. There is no one way to be a mother. There is no one way to grieve.

Today, I honour all the versions of motherhood we carry - the seen and unseen, held and remembered.

Everything, Always

Zeynah & Ziva's mum
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#angelmama #motheringittogether #griefandjoy #lossmum #bereavedsibling

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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. 😘

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