Our Founder - Faces of Hope

Standing With Families, One Heartbeat at a Time

Faces of H.O.P.E. is a nonprofit rooted in compassion, advocacy, and unwavering support for families navigating perinatal health challenges and NICU stays.

From Loss to Legacy: Nekia's Story

A journey of resilience, faith, and purpose—built on love, loss, and the hope of something greater.

Her Story Begins

In 2003, Nekia faced the unimaginable—delivering her first child stillborn at just 23 weeks. The pain was profound, the silence overwhelming. But through every heartbeat lost, a purpose began to take root.

Over the years, she endured more heartbreak: the loss of her second daughter Genevieve at 18 weeks, followed by an interstitial pregnancy. These experiences could have broken her—but instead, they built her.

Holding On to Hope

Holding Onto Hope

In 2021, Nekia and her husband welcomed their daughter Victoria—a beacon of light in their story. But even then, her path was not without trials. In 2025, she faced PPROM (Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes) during her pregnancy with her son Assimba. He arrived at just 29 weeks and spent 50 days in the NICU, fighting bravely, reminding her of every mother’s quiet strength.

Beyond motherhood, Nekia faced her own battles—diagnosed with Lupus in 2011 and later with Class V Lupus Nephritis. Twenty-two months of intense immunotherapy followed. But through it all, she clung to her faith and the unshakable belief that her pain had a purpose.

Why She Founded Faces of H.O.P.E.

Driven by a passion to ensure no mother walks this road alone, Nekia founded Faces of H.O.P.E. in 2021.

Her mission was clear:
To offer families the emotional, educational, and spiritual support she once searched for herself.

Today, Faces of H.O.P.E. is a community of healing—a place where pain is honored, stories are shared, and families find strength in each other.

A Message from Nekia

I vaginally delivered 4 babies and the only one I didn’t see was the interstitial one.

Nekia Mba