Our Story

Taylor, Cole, and Brody Florence are triplets born 15 weeks prematurely (at 25 weeks and 5 days gestation) on January 1, 2008. They had a long fight in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and endured many tests, procedures and surgeries to keep them alive. The triplets were discharged from the hospital at different times, and after almost six months in intensive care, the last triplet joined his family at home.

When they were finally all together again, frequent trips to the hospital were necessary as the triplets’ health was still compromised and very fragile. Their parents, Dana and Jared Florence, hoped that with each passing day the babies would continue to grow stronger. Each small thing that the triplets achieved brought their loved ones so much joy; whether it was learning to hold a toy or simply giving a big smile, each of their accomplishments was a victory to be grateful for. However, as the babies grew older, it became clear that they were not meeting their developmental milestones on time.

Taylor, Cole, and Brody were each diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a class of brain injury from birth that has no known cure.

Overwhelmed and shocked by the diagnosis, but at once motivated by love, the triplets’ parents, Dana and Jared, made a decision to turn this potentially devastating situation into one of hope and empowerment.

This is how THREE TO BE was born.