2. A brief history of Tom, Laura, and Franklin
“The Family”

Tom and Laura met through mutual friends in 2009. As a result of their instant connection, a friendship developed between them. It didn't matter what path they were on, they were always connected. Despite being cities, and at one point, states apart, their friendship only intensified. Nearly seven years after they met, Tom and Laura became a couple. In late 2016 they moved into their current home together.

From the very beginning, Tom and Laura had a divine connection. As friends, they pushed each other to be better and do better, and that only seemed to grow once they became a couple. Through career paths and college, they have supported one another in times of hardship as well as helped each other overcome obstacles. The two of them share an unbreakable bond, one that most spend a lifetime seeking.

In June 2017, Laura became pregnant. As with any first pregnancy, there was both excitement and fear. The joy of starting a family with Laura inspired Tom to work harder and ease into the role of a father.

In February 2018, Tom and Laura welcomed their son, Franklin, into the world. They raised him together as a united and loving family from that day forward. The family went everywhere together and did everything together. Whether it was doctor appointments, visits with family and friends, feeding, sleeping, changing, or any other responsibility they shared, they did it as a team. In all accounts, Tom was a loving, gentle, caring and committed father. Franklin represented his greatest joy in his life.