Some stories are heartbreakingly short, yet leave an impact that stretches far beyond the limits of time. Such is the story of sweet baby Austin Carlyle Edwards — “Baby A” — a tiny, perfect soul who spent just 31 days on this earth, but whose presence filled his family’s hearts with a lifetime of love.
Austin was born with a strength that surprised everyone. Though small, he carried a warrior’s spirit, fighting against challenges that no baby should ever face. From his first breath to his last, he remained brave, determined, and wrapped in the unconditional love of his parents, Garris and Nichole, his siblings Layla and Bubba, and an entire family who adored him. Every moment he was here, he radiated innocence, purity, and a light that made even the hardest days feel sacred.
On November 27th, God called Austin home.
Those words crack the heart open in a way that cannot be measured. Losing a child is a grief that steals breath, bends knees, and reshapes a family forever. And yet, in the middle of this unimaginable pain, Austin’s family speaks with a strength born from faith — a belief that while they only held him for 31 days, God has always held his entire story.
They find comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering. No more tubes, no more struggles, no more pain. Instead, they picture him whole and radiant, smiling and dancing in heaven’s warm light, surrounded by the grandfathers, grandmothers, and uncle who welcomed him with arms full of love. The thought of that reunion — his tiny hands reaching for the people who had waited for him — brings a bittersweet peace, a reminder that love does not end; it simply changes place.
For his family, the world now feels divided:
One part here on earth, and the other part in heaven with Austin.
His mother said it best: “A part of Garris and I lives here, the other part of us lives in heaven with you, Bub.”
No truer words describe the way grief rewrites a parent’s heart. Their bodies remain here, caring for their children, moving through each day — but their souls now stretch upward, always reaching for the little boy they long to hold again.
Still, even in sorrow, gratitude rises.
Austin’s parents speak not just of loss, but of honor — the profound honor of being chosen as his mother and father. They cherish each of the 31 priceless days they were given. Every breath he took. Every finger they held. Every moment he fought. Every quiet second spent watching him in awe. Austin’s life may have been short, but it was overflowing with meaning, purpose, and love.
He changed them.
He softened them.
He strengthened them.
He made them parents in a deeper, more sacred way.
To Layla and Bubba, he was a baby brother they adored. To Daddy and Mommy, he was everything good and beautiful in this world — a reminder of innocence, purity, and hope. To their family and friends, he became a symbol of love’s power, faith’s comfort, and the miracle that can exist even in the smallest of lives.
And he will never be forgotten.
His family promises that with every sunrise, every whispered prayer, every beating heart — Austin lives on. In the way they speak his name with tenderness. In the memories they hold tightly. In the love they share with one another. He is woven into the fabric of their lives, not as someone who left too soon, but as someone who changed them forever.
Baby Austin’s story reminds us that the value of a life is not found in its length but in its depth. In 31 days, he inspired more love than many people know in a lifetime. His presence was a gift — fragile, fleeting, and immeasurably precious.
Now, as his family navigates a world without him in their arms, they hold close the certainty that he is watching over them. Smiling. Dancing. Strengthening his brother. Guiding his parents. Resting in the embrace of loved ones who went before him.
Sweet Austin Carlyle Edwards —
forever loved, forever remembered, forever theirs.
A life short in days, but endless in love.
