Brittnea & Steadman

Meet Steadman and Brittnea Bell, a couple whose journey to parenthood has been marked by both profound loss and unwavering hope. Their story began in 2013 at Langston University, leading to a marriage in 2018 and a life in Nashville, TN. Despite a strong bond and dreams of starting a family, they faced significant challenges with infertility, including a diagnosis of male factor infertility for Steadman. After enduring multiple IUI treatments, a painful miscarriage, and a heart-wrenching delivery at just 22 weeks, they found themselves grappling with both emotional and financial strain.

Their daughter, Skylar Rose, was born prematurely and passed away shortly after birth, leaving them devastated. In response to their loss, they founded the Skylar Rose Foundation to support other families affected by infant loss, ensuring Skylar's legacy lives on through their charitable work. Despite their grief, they have continued to fight for their dream of becoming parents. After a failed IVF cycle and financial exhaustion from medical expenses, they are seeking support to continue their journey.

Their story is a testament to their resilience and dedication. "We are not ready to give up hope in growing our family and having the opportunity to bring our baby home," they share. "Our faith in God has been key in our growth, and we believe it takes a village to make our dream of parenthood a reality." With the support of grants and their unwavering determination, they hold on to the hope of building their family and honoring their daughter's memory.

They were recipients of the 2023 Will & Alissa Malnati Grant.

Update April 2025:

Infertility is the hardest thing I have ever faced. It takes you to the edge of yourself. It makes you question why certain people can get pregnant but you can’t. It makes you lose all sense of self. You start to lose your faith in those deep dark nights of miscarrying at 3am while rolling around in pain. It makes you start to see the world in black and white rather than in the vibrant colors that other people see. It makes you wonder if you even have a purpose on this earth. Hope Lives Here: Mother in Waiting

My name is Brittnea, and my journey to motherhood has been long, painful, and deeply transformative.

For years, I’ve dreamed of building the family I never had growing up. My childhood left me unsure if I could—or even wanted to—be a mother. But as I healed, I found myself holding onto hope: hope that I could break generational cycles and create a life filled with love, stability, and joy for a child of my own.

I started trying to conceive in 2017. What followed was a rollercoaster of timed cycles, six IUIs, two rounds of IVF, multiple pregnancy losses—including the heartbreaking loss of my daughter, Skylar Rose, at 22 weeks—and ultimately, the end of my marriage.

I’ve experienced the emotional, physical, and financial weight of infertility. I’ve walked out of countless clinics with empty arms and a heavy heart. I’ve grieved deeply—not just for the babies I’ve lost, but for the dreams and milestones that slipped away with them.

And yet—I’m still here. I’m still standing. I’m still waiting for my miracle.

After nearly six years of hormone treatments, procedures, and unimaginable loss, I’ve made an act of courage, surrender, and belief in a future that may look different than I imagined—but one that still holds joy.

This journey has changed me in every way. I’m no longer the woman who started this path—I’m softer, stronger, and more resilient than I ever knew I could be. And still, so hopeful.

To anyone out there walking through infertility: you are not alone. You are seen. You are worthy. And there is still hope.

Hope lives here—inside me.

I am a mother in waiting.