JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville community is rallying behind a local father who lost his wife just one day after she delivered their sixth baby, who was born premature at just 29 weeks.
Aaron Spaulding, 31, who currently lives in Jacksonville but plans to relocate to Gainesville, faces the challenge of raising six children alone while coordinating care for his still hospitalized baby.
His wife, whose name he chose not to share, passed away on Nov. 17 at age 32 from sudden medical complications following the emergency C-section delivery the day before.
“One of the biggest things that I never thought that I would ever have to live through is living a life without her,” Spaulding told News4JAX.
That’s because his wife was strong.
“She had a condition that took away one of her kidneys, and the doctor told her she’d never be able to walk, live past 18, or have kids,” Spaulding said.
But together, the couple had six children, some of which were adopted: ages 10, 9, 4, 3, 2, and the youngest, born in November.
Spaulding said his wife saw their son the day after he was born, and three hours later, she died.
“We don’t know why, we don’t know what caused it yet, but we know that no matter what, God’s in control,” Spaulding said.
Spaulding tells News4JAX his youngest son is doing better day by day but remains in the NICU.
“He started off having to have a respiratory tube inside of him to help him breathe. He immediately got off of that, and he started breathing well, so he’s eating,” Spaulding said.
Spaulding said he’s leaning on his faith and the support of his community during the most difficult time of his life.
And community members have already stepped up with immediate assistance. Some have covered funeral expenses, helped with rent and car payments, and donated burial plots.
Spaulding’s employer has also offered support, but the family faces significant ongoing expenses as they prepare to relocate to Gainesville to be closer to Spaulding’s supportive in-laws.
That’s why Adam Dragoon, a longtime friend from Spaulding’s church community, initiated a GoFundMe campaign for the family.
“God is giving him strength, but strength does not erase practical needs,” Dragoon wrote on the campaign page. “Thank you for standing with Aaron and his children during the hardest season of their lives.”
Spaulding admitted the uncertainty has been difficult.
“The GoFundMe is to help with a lot of things that can come up, because I don’t know what’s about to come,” he said. “I’m doing everything I can to work myself to the bone.”
He said he’s grateful to the community for all its support and to everyone who has donated to help his family.
“Losing a wife is the hardest, hardest thing a man can ever go through. As sudden as it was to where it is now, it literally feels like I just went through one door to another,” Spaulding said. “Being a single dad with six kids... I’ve never been that before.”