A grieving Bremerton couple is asking for community support after losing their baby girl to a rare and often unpredictable complication.
Kirkland Banker, of Bremerton, said he and his fiancée Melinda lost their daughter to stillbirth on Friday, April 3, after what doctors identified as a true knot in the umbilical cord.
The couple is now raising money to place a headstone on their child’s grave, cover time away from work, and hold a memorial service in June for those who were unable to attend the funeral.
“My fiancé Melinda and I experienced the unimaginable loss of our child to stillbirth,” Banker wrote on a fundraiser. He described the devastating loss as something neither of them could have anticipated.
A true knot occurs when the umbilical cord loops and tightens, potentially cutting off oxygen and blood flow to the baby, according to health officials. The condition is considered rare and often develops earlier in pregnancy, but may not cause complications unless the knot tightens.
According to medical research, true knots occur in roughly 1% of pregnancies and are difficult to detect before birth. While many do not lead to harm, a tightened knot can result in serious complications, including stillbirth.
“This tragedy has left us heartbroken and struggling to find ways to honor our baby’s memory,” Banker wrote.
“Having a headstone would mean so much to us—it would give us a place to visit, remember, and celebrate her life, even though it was far too short.”
The fundraiser states the financial burden of funeral arrangements, time away from work, and memorial planning has been significant.
“The costs are more than we can manage right now, and any support would help us take this important step in our healing process,” Banker wrote. “Thank you for supporting us and keeping our family in your thoughts.”
Those interested in supporting the family can donate via GoFundMe here.
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