“There is no footprint so small, that it does not leave an impact on this world.”

His Name is Cooper

On February 19, 2022, we were blessed to meet our son, Cooper Steinhauser. Born at 25.5 weeks, he entered this world facing insurmountable odds. The NICU staff will tell you that the NICU journey is a roller coaster, with ups and downs, and you don’t truly understand it until you are immersed in a world where the smallest, most vulnerable babies are faced with life-threatening challenges. Despite the challenges we would face, Cooper showed us how to be strong, how to face our fears, how to appreciate all moments (big and small), and to never stop loving each other.

Additionally, our support came from the amazing care we received from our NICU teams and the support staff who work on the floor. Cooper brought amazing people into our lives and helped us understand what was happening medically and emotionally. They helped make us feel like part of the team and capture every precious moment we could. The NICU staff provided the stable foundation we needed so that we could focus on being the best parents possible for Cooper.

After 82 days in the NICU, Cooper died but his impact on this world was just beginning. We knew that we must continue his impact and support other families and patients in the NICU and this is why we created Cooper Steinhauser Foundation.