Catherine Mornhineway and her partner Andrew Ford faced an unimaginable decision when they learned their unborn daughter, Haven, had a severe birth defect known as anencephaly. This condition, which affects approximately 1 in 5,250 babies, results in little to no brain or skull development and is considered incompatible with life. Despite their heartbreaking diagnosis, the couple chose to carry Haven to term, ultimately donating her organs to give others a chance at life.
The journey began at a routine ultrasound at 14 weeks, where excitement quickly turned to devastation. Following an initial scan that appeared normal, Mornhineway, 30, and Ford were informed by a doctor that their baby likely had anencephaly. The couple was devastated when this was later confirmed by a second ultrasound.
“Most people terminate,” the doctor said. “This is incompatible with life.” Listening to phrases like “surgical removal” left Mornhineway feeling uneasy, and the couple wrestled with the decision for three weeks. They found inspiration from a social media post about a fictional mother in a similar situation on the television series *Grey’s Anatomy*, who had chosen to carry her baby to term and donate the organs after birth.
Mornhineway resolved to carry Haven to term, saying, “I was just like, that’s my little girl. I’m going to carry her and spend as long as I can with her.”
A Precious Gift from a Short Life
Organ and tissue donations from newborns are exceedingly rare. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, fewer than 120 U.S. children who died before their first birthday donated organs or tissue in 2024, although specific data on newborn donors is not maintained. The couple’s decision caught the attention of LifeLink, an organ procurement organization that noted this case was the first of its kind in Tampa Bay and only the third in over three decades.
As Mornhineway’s pregnancy progressed, the couple prepared their three children, including 12-year-old Chloe, 4-year-old Raeya, and 2-year-old Malakai, for what lay ahead. They chose to share the full story with Chloe to ensure she understood the gravity of their situation. The family decided to name their baby Haven, inspired by a trip to Ormond Beach where the word kept appearing on road signs.
On December 11, 2024, Haven Sariah Renee Ford was born via C-section weighing 6 pounds, despite the severity of her condition. Immediately placed on life support, Haven was monitored by LifeLink medical staff to assess her organ viability.
For the brief four days that followed, the family created lasting memories, holding her and introducing her to relatives. They captured hand and foot imprints and painted her tiny toenails. “Everybody that held her cried, but was also happy they got to meet her,” Ford recalled.
Final Moments and a Lasting Legacy
On December 14, the family wanted Haven to feel the sunlight and breeze before saying goodbye. Hospital staff facilitated an emotional outdoor experience, forming an honor walk as the family passed. Doctors and nurses lined the corridor, some visibly moved, as an instrumental version of “A Thousand Years” played softly.
“We just wanted to honor her and the life she had,” Mornhineway said. After spending precious moments with their daughter without medical equipment intervening, Haven’s life support was turned off.
Haven’s organs were subsequently removed by Dr. Jacentha Buggs, the youngest donor she had ever operated on. “It’s an incredibly selfless thing for this family to do,” she stated. “In one of their darkest moments emotionally, to bless another child with the opportunity of life.”
Valves from Haven’s heart are expected to help several young patients awaiting surgery. Although a planned partial heart transplant for one intended recipient could not proceed due to an infection, the family hopes their story inspires others to consider organ donation.
Reflecting on their experience, Ford stated, “It’s a life, and it’s just such a beautiful experience even knowing what we had to do and what was going to happen. It’s just so worth it.” Through their profound loss, the couple takes comfort in knowing that Haven’s brief life might have sparked hope for another family, underscoring the impact of organ donation in the face of tragedy.
