My name is Leah, and this is my “Before to Beyond” story. In 2012, I was pregnant, a first-time mom, with all the excitement and slight fear new moms experience. Little did I know, that fear would become a reality and nightmare no mom wants to face. My daughter Alexa, born perfect and healthy, unexpectedly stopped breathing due to the mistake of hospital staff and died when she was three days old. A large piece of me died with her.

Fast forward to 2013, I was in another situation that I had to somehow survive. I was hit by a drunk driver, and suddenly on my way to another emergency room via ambulance. After my car accident, I found myself pregnant again, at high risk, and completely terrified that I would lose another baby. The saying “when it rains, it pours” applied to my life at that point, in the truest sense. Three months into my pregnancy, the father of my girl became violent and tried to harm me. The police had to be called. I found myself in the back of an ambulance again, racing for the emergency room so the health of my baby could be checked on. By the grace of Jesus, my little girl was safe.

The rest of my pregnancy was “quiet,” with doctor visits and ultrasounds every two weeks. During a routine visit and routine ultrasound in the last five weeks of my pregnancy, my daughter wasn’t breathing or moving. I was told that there was a slim chance of her living outside the womb. I was immediately sent to the hospital to have an emergency C-section. Doctors prepared me for the very real fact that my daughter wasn’t going to live, telling me she wouldn’t cry when delivered, would need to be incubated, and have chest compressions performed on her. The list went on and on.

Truthfully I didn’t hear most of what they said, I was heartbroken and devastated knowing I was going to lose another baby. By grace that only God can provide, my little girl was delivered half way, crying, which immediately became the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. She was taken to the NICU to be monitored. I faced motherhood alone, single. which was for the best, and bracing myself for the worst. The worst didn’t come this time, my daughter lived and is thriving.

Since then, losing weight has been a challenge, not for lack of trying. Now it’s 2024, and I really really need to lose weight and be healthy for my daughter. I’m all she has and if she loses me, she will be all alone. I can’t and won’t let that happen. I need to lose weight, be healthier and be around for a long time for her.

I learned about Beyond Slim from Lacy Hood, a rare gem in this world, a sweet woman who has been incredibly encouraging, even when I can’t afford Beyond Slim. I tried the sample and immediately loved it. It’s my hope that when I have more financial stability, I can use Beyond Slim consistently.