Today we’d like to introduce you to Savannah Leyde.
Hi Savannah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My husband and I met when I was 15 years old at South Saint Paul High School. After graduation, we were married in 2003 and welcomed our first child, a son named Dylan, in 2004. I had always had the desire to participate in a pageant. However, as a married woman I thought my opportunity had passed. Little did I know they had pageant systems dedicated to honor, recognize, and celebrate America’s married women. A little over a year after having our son, when I was 21, I decided to step out of my comfort zone, step into my heels, and onto the stage as Mrs. South Saint Paul 2006. I competed for the title of Mrs. Minnesota-America; placing in the top 10 and later learned I was merely points away from top 5. A judge approached me afterward and told me that I should continue on in pageantry and that he saw good things in store for me. Following the pageant, my husband and I decided that it was time for us to welcome a second child. We learned we were expecting in July of 2006 and were elated to later find out we were expecting another boy. After much contemplation and my impatience to name him, my husband chose the name Taylor. In late February 2007, while reading my weekly pregnancy email that I received to keep me informed of how my baby and body were changing each week as the pregnancy progressed, I was redirected to a woman’s personal story of stillbirth. I was mortified to learn that you could lose a baby so late into pregnancy. Her story broke my heart, and I phoned my mother-in-law telling her I couldn’t imagine going through something so heart-wrenching. Sadly, a few days later, on March 3, 2007, what had been the perfect pregnancy went terribly wrong. I was 35.5 weeks along, and after monitoring my usually quite active baby boy only to find no movements, I called the hospital and was told to come in. Dereck, Dylan and I rushed to United Hospital. My mind kept telling me that everything was okay, and that I was just being paranoid. My heart told me otherwise. The story I had come across only days before kept running through my mind. I was trying to remain positive, trying to push away the feelings of knowing something was wrong. As I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, listening to the nurse struggle to find Taylor’s heartbeat, I knew I was about to live the very same nightmare that I had recently read about. An ultrasound was ordered. It was then and there that I knew Taylor had passed away. I recalled how the woman wrote in the story what the ultrasound had revealed. The tears I had been fighting flowed freely and uncontrollably now. I looked at my husband who hadn’t a clue, I wanted to tell him what I thought knew, but I couldn’t find the words. He just smiled reassuringly, trying to get me to see that everything would be fine. The ultrasound tech came in. She never said a word, just went straight to work, applying the conductor jelly that was about to display my son’s heartbeat and either ease or confirm my worst fear. She placed the doppler, and as soon as the screen was turned on, I saw Taylor’s sweet little silhouette, no movements and my worst fear was confirmed. No heartbeat. Our precious little baby boy had passed away just shy of 36 weeks into our pregnancy. We went from planning our baby boy’s joyous life, to planning his funeral that was held on March 6, 2007.
We learned in July of 2007, that we were expecting again. A baby arriving after a loss has been endearingly nicknamed a Rainbow Baby – hope after the storm. We were immediately placed on ‘high risk’, seen and tested frequently to ensure a healthy pregnancy with a happy ending. It was very frightening to be expecting after a loss. We purchased a medical grade Doppler for home use and monitored the baby’s heart rate throughout our entire expectancy. We learned we were having a girl. Such conflicting emotions, happy and elated to be expecting another baby, but still grieving for the loss of our son. During the pregnancy, a mere seven months after Taylor’s death, my sister who had been present for his birth passed away. It was very difficult for me as we are a close-knit family and her presence during Taylor’s birth meant so much to me. My entire family was experiencing heartache. I knew I needed to be strong and take care of myself and this baby. Toward the end of my pregnancy, we met with a specialist regarding induction to ensure safe delivery. A week prior to the date of scheduled induction we noted heart decelerations during a weekly visit, and while home monitoring as well, and went in immediately. At first things seemed to be fine, however after a few hours of monitoring the baby’s heart we had several concerning decelerations and were kept overnight for observations. I couldn’t sleep; I laid there watching the strip as it printed out my daughter’s heartbeat. Finally, morning came and we had an uneventful night, so we were about to be released when suddenly her heart rate dropped immensely and the doctor struggled to get it back up. The doctor decided to induce that morning and our daughter JennaLee Taylor May (named after my sister Jennifer Lee who was born in May, and her brother Taylor) arrived safely on her brother’s funeral date of March 9, 2008. One year after we lost Taylor. We lovingly say that God planted a rose on what will always be a hard day for our family.
After Jenna’s arrival, I was now able to take a step back, exhale, and actually sit with the emotions that a pregnancy after a loss brought about and acknowledge how there were so many conflicting emotions present during that time. Taylor’s 1st year anniversary was at hand, and I wanted to do something to honor Taylor Jeffrey Gerald’s little life, so I decided to post online offering free maternity portraits during the month of March, to anyone who was expecting following the loss of a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. Thus, our nonprofit Taylored To You was born. We provide Rainbow Belly Maternity portraits, a Bouquet of Blessings, Stillbirth Announcement art and more, to grieving families. We were incorporated a few years later and have worked hard to create awareness for our cause. We researched and wrote a proclamation and obtained support from then Governor Dayton, proclaiming the month of March Pregnancy After A Loss Awareness Month in the state of Minnesota. I began working hard to bring awareness to our mission and our resources. I decided to re-enter pageantry with an even greater cause; to share our story, experiences and our nonprofit organization within the community through volunteerism. I served as Mrs. Dakota County and Mrs. South Saint Paul in different systems and as the years progressed, I continued on in pageantry with a newfound passion to spread my message of hope and healing to grieving families. I wrote and illustrated “My Brother… He’s an Angel” and celebrated the official publication by Jeff Lonto of Studio Z-7. This book was a labor of love, and I used writing and art as a healing outlet. Through the years, our family continued to grow, and we welcomed 2 more rainbow babies. I continued to participate in Pageantry and in 2016, I was elated to be appointed to represent my home state with the title of Mrs. Minnesota US Universal, where I went on to compete at Nationals and win People’s Choice and was crowned Mrs. North America US-Universal. Since 2016, I have had many new and exciting changes; I decided to leave my longtime career as a childcare provider and become a certified personal trainer due to my lifelong love of fitness and running. As the owner of EmpowHERed Fitness I help women discover their strength and reclaim their health and wellness. We have 5 children altogether (and now a daughter-in-law because our family is ever-growing and changing), and I have recently decided to get back into pageantry after taking a break to focus on educating and raising our children. I am the current reigning Mrs. Minnesota Petite Reign 2026 and will compete at Nationals in Columbus, Ohio in April of 2027 for the title of Mrs. Petite Reign 2027, to continue to share my story of love and loss, hope and healing and continue to share our nonprofit resources and support through community outreach. March of 2027 would be Taylor’s 20th birthday. There is no better way to continue to honor my son’s memory and leave a legacy of love in his name, than to continue to lift others up during their darkest hours of loss and help them navigate their journey of grief through small acts of love that leave a lasting impression of strength, resilience, and love in their wake.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been many struggles and challenges along the way in this journey of life. Overcoming our own personal loss of our own son, while trying to support others as we healed ourselves, and navigating pregnancies and parenting through it all. Learning how to come together as a couple in our grief had its challenges. However, we have overcome them and have become stronger through every single trial and triumph in our lives and as a family. Making the choice to walk away from a very successful, well-loved, award-winning career (Childcare Provider of the Year Award recipient) as child care provider to allow myself the time, energy, and healing I needed during subsequent pregnancies, and to pursue my passion for fitness as the owner of EmpowHERed Fitness, was also a very hard decision. I have come out on top and all the better for it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am first and foremost a woman of God, wife and mother. I have been homeschooling our children since the 2011/2012 school year. I am a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with a great passion for working with women to help them discover their strength and confidence in themselves physically and mentally, a freelance photographer and graphic designer for both Savannah Smiles Photography and Taylored To You; I have volunteered in the past for The Friends of the Angel Maple Grove as a photographer during their annual Walk to Remember event, and other local nonprofit organizations such as Infants Remembered In Silince (IRIS.org) and the proud published author and illustrator of a children’s book, My Brother… He’s an Angel. I believe my drive, determination, resilience and want to make the world a better place through serving others and advocacy sets me apart.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice for finding a mentor or networking for any particular cause or reason would be to look outward from yourself to that of community involvement both professionally and personally, within your career or your area of interest or volunteerism. Find a community group or seek volunteering opportunities that align with your missions and move forward from there. Every small and meaningful event you attend or participate in building and planning will increase your experience, knowledge and community of networking individuals. You will create long-lasting connections with like-minded and big-hearted people that want to support you and bring you closer to your goals and missions All of the people you encounter in your life will help you grow and expand in your professional and personal life.
Pricing:
- Taylored To You: free of charge to any family who has experienced the loss of a baby/child
- Affordable pricing for training programs through EmpowHERed Fitness
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tayloredtoyou.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SavannahLeyde | https://www.facebook.com/TayloredToYou/ | https://www.facebook.com/SavannahLoriLeePortraitPhotography
- Other: www.empowheredfitness.com
