An Army of Saints—Alive in Him
A dear friend, Danielle Rose, shared Brian’s story with me during one of the most sorrowful times in our lives—the loss of our daughter Dympha, who died at just 8 weeks gestation due to miscarriage. Dympha was our third child lost this way, following Thomas and Angelica. We now have more children in Heaven than on earth—a truth that is both deeply beautiful and profoundly painful.
In the years that followed our first two miscarriages, I was blessed to co-author two books to support grieving Catholic families: Nursery of Heaven and The Grief Dads. In these works, we share stories of couples who have lost children, alongside the stories of saints who have walked the same path. There is no sorrow in this life greater than the loss of a child.
Brian’s story came to me right around the time we lost our third baby. His witness was a consolation from Heaven. Like many parents who’ve experienced miscarriage, I’ve struggled with questions about where our children are. But Brian’s story seemed to affirm what I’ve long hoped—that God is working miracles before our very eyes. That our children, especially those we desired to baptize, are not lost, but alive in Him.
When I first shared Brian’s story on Instagram, it reached over 1 million views in just two days. Thousands of hearts were moved. People poured out their stories, their grief, and their gratitude for this consolation.
Brian’s incorrupt body—a child who, had he lived, would only be a few years older than I am—is a powerful witness to the Resurrection. It’s a reminder that not only will we one day be reunited with our children in Heaven, but that we will also be reunited with our glorified bodies, made whole in Christ.
My prayer is that everyone who encounters Brian’s story may be stirred to call upon his intercession—and the intercession of their own little ones. An army of saints, small in stature but great in holiness, is praying for us, longing for us, and waiting to welcome us home.
Patrick O'Hearn is a devout Catholic, husband, and father. He is an author, literary consultant, speaker, and a freelance editor, previously serving as TAN Books' acquisitions editor for two years. His books include Nursery of Heaven and The Grief of Dads.
He grew up in the Midwest and spent close to three years in a Benedictine Monastery before discerning the call to marriage. He graduated with a master's in education from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a bachelor's in marketing from St. Ambrose University.