#BornTooSoon Story – Jalen Foster

Gabriela and Jerome Foster from Nevada, USA were excited about welcoming their third child to the family. Gabriela had gotten pregnant just three months after the birth of their second daughter. 

However, on 27 November, 2012, Gabriela went into preterm labour, and their son, Jalen, was stillborn having died of a common bacteria known as group B streptococcus or GBS. "I was admitted to the hospital with a high fever, chills and labour back pain. I held on to hope but never imagined to hear, 'there is no heartbeat.'"

Memorial to Jalen

A month earlier, Gabriela had gone to the hospital complaining of clear fluid leakage. The nurse told her that it was just a yeast infection and discharged her. "I was never seen by a doctor nor did the nurse run a culture to make sure it was a yeast infection. If they had done that, they would have found GBS."

The pathology report confirmed that the cause of death was GBS. Gabriela had been aware of GBS testing in pregnancy but hadn’t understood why it was done and why it was so important. "There was nothing that I could have done. There is no support to families who experience prenatal onset of GBS."

Their traumatic experience made them realize the lack of resources for families that suffer a pregnancy or infant loss in their community. "When we lost our son, there was no number to call for support. We felt helpless, alone, and lost."

They started a non-profit organization in honour of their son to help families following such a tragic loss. "We didn’t want someone else to be in the same situation that we were in," said Jerome. "We both wanted to make a difference in the community and honor our son, so we started Jalen’s Gift." Their organization works with local hospitals, doctor offices, and hospice care facilities in Las Vegas offering families a memorial care package, remembrance photography, financial assistance towards burial costs, and grief support.

Gabriela and Jerome remembering their son, Jalen

In the next decade, Gabriela and Jerome would like to see more awareness about GBS in pregnancy as well as support to parents, especially to fathers, after a stillbirth. Through their work, they see the need to support fathers just as much as mothers in bereavement support. 

"Don’t exclude fathers. You know, the moment you’re pregnant, we’re pregnant together, and when it just stops, you feel helpless. We have to help women understand their husbands’ experience. I am grieving too. I lost a child as well. I think that is part of shaping the support for men."

Learn more about their organization at www.jalensgift.org