R Baby Heroes

Jamie Rutenberg

Every time I’ve gotten a phone call that a family lost a baby, my heart breaks into a million pieces.

This time was no different except that this time, it was an Aunt I spoke to first rather than a parent. Jamie Rutenberg reached out to R Baby after her brother Michael and his wife Stacey lost their baby, Riley Nicole, on May 13th, 2018. There are some people that come into your life and you feel an immediate closeness that it feels like it is destined to be. This is how we feel about the entire Rutenberg family. We immediately connected on so many levels. We couldn’t stop speaking for hours and days, sharing our grief of the losses of Rebecca and Riley, connecting us.

Michael and Stacey were extraordinarily courageous and determined to find a perpetual way to honor their daughter. At the same time, Jamie was right there with them every step of the way making sure it happened with such class, persistence and love.

Sometimes the hero in our lives is the one with the biggest heart that makes our goals come true like it’s their own. In their family’s grief, Jamie was able to help her brother and wife achieve what they set out to: honor their daughter with the creation of The Riley Fund at R Baby (https://www.rbabyfoundation.org/the-riley-fund-for-stillbirth-research-at-r-baby-foundation/) helping them every step of the way. Whether it was helping them determine the best use of the funds they raised or getting that 10th auction item, Jamie graciously worked very hard and gave her whole heart in her niece’s honor.

Jamie is the perfect example of an unsung hero who deserves recognition. She is the best friend, best sister, best aunt anyone could ask for. She is an inspiration for all of us to give the most we can to our loved ones especially in times of tragedy.

I am so grateful to be so connected to the Rutenberg family. We wish them all the best and are thrilled to announce they welcomed baby Laney James Rutenberg in June of 2019.

— Phyllis Rabinowitz