On February 22, 2007, the Stamper family heard those words that no expecting parent should ever have to hear. “I am so sorry, there is no heartbeat.” Their world as they knew it would be forever changed.
A few hours later, they delivered their daughter, Madison Elizabeth Stamper, via c-section at Martin Medical Center North Hospital in Stuart, FL. Their time together would be brief. Because babies often show signs of passing quickly, many hospitals move them to the morgue soon after delivery. The family had two hours with their angel. Not nearly enough time.
A nurse had a camera in her locker and asked if they would like her to take a few photos. Cell phones were not as they are today so, having a camera at the hospital was great. The five photos she took would be the only pictures the family would ever have of their daughter.
The Stampers founded Madison’s Miracles in June of 2016 to give families on the Treasure Coast everything they had not had, like Cuddle Cots to give families the Gift of Time, resources to help answer questions, and memory gifts to honor the memory of their baby. Later they started support groups, funeral expenses funds and grief counseling to these families, all free of charge.
The Stamper family decided in the fall of 2022 to leave the Treasure Coast and move to North Carolina. But because Madison was born in Stuart and touched so many lives in both Martin and St. Lucie counties, they wanted her legacy to continue here.
That legacy is now in the compassionate hands of Martin County Healthy Start Coalition. The Stampers turned over Madison’s Miracles with this sentiment: “We know they will continue everything that we started here and make it even better. They are dedicated to helping families and honoring the memories of all babies gone too soon. For that, we are eternally grateful.”
