Our story
Jennifer and Ryan dreamed of becoming parents for many years. After facing challenges growing their family, they turned to IVF with hope in their hearts and faith in the possibility that their dream might finally come true. When they learned they were expecting identical twin boys, their world changed instantly. The joy, anticipation, and love they felt for their babies began long before they were born.
Their pregnancy journey was not easy, but Jennifer and Ryan held tightly to the excitement of meeting their sons. At just 27 weeks, their twin boys, Oliver and Wesley, entered the world far earlier than expected. In those fragile and sacred early hours of life, Oliver lived for 12 beautiful hours, surrounded by deep love. Wesley continued his fight, spending 100 days in the NICU before finally coming home.
Becoming parents to twins brought Jennifer and Ryan immeasurable love, but it also introduced a depth of grief they had never known. They quickly discovered that losing a child changes every part of a parent’s life. The world continues to move forward, but grief does not follow a timeline. Oliver remained, and continues to remain, an irreplaceable part of their family, their story, and their hearts.
As Jennifer navigated her own grief, she began to recognize something profound. Parents who lose babies and young children often carry their loss quietly, longing for spaces where their children are remembered, spoken about, and honored without hesitation or discomfort. She saw how healing it could be to gather with others who truly understand, parents who share a bond that requires no explanation.
From this deeply personal journey, Oliver’s Offerings was born.
Jennifer created Oliver’s Offerings as a place where families can step away from daily life and come together in community, remembrance, and healing. The retreat was built on the belief that the love parents have for their children never ends, and neither should the opportunity to celebrate and honor their lives. It is a space where grief and love can exist side by side, where parents can share stories, speak their children’s names, and find connection with others walking a similar path.
Oliver’s life, though brief, created a ripple of compassion, understanding, and connection that continues to reach families across the community. His legacy lives through every parent who finds comfort, strength, and hope through Oliver’s Offerings.
Jennifer and Ryan continue to carry Oliver with them in everything they do. His presence is woven into their family, alongside Wesley, who is now thriving and growing. Oliver’s story is not only one of loss, it is one of enduring love, connection, and the belief that even the shortest lives can leave the most meaningful impact.
Inspired by her own journey through grief and healing, Jennifer has also gone on to support other families through her counselling work. She now leads Gathering Glimmers Counselling Services, where she specializes in supporting individuals and families navigating loss. Through both Oliver’s Offerings and her counselling practice, Jennifer remains deeply committed to helping others find connection, understanding, and moments of light through grief.