Photo: Samantha Kallal/ Sugarfoor Photography
The firefighter — who had spent the last 10 years working for the Swansea Fire Department in Swansea, Illinois — shared a 2-year-old son named Brock with his wife Alex Korves, whose pregnancy was not clear at the time of Brett’s death.
Speaking toGMA, Alex described the life they had together, which instantly changed because of a driver speeding at 94 miles per hour.
“We had our son, we had our house, we were doing everything the right way,” Alex toldGMA. “It will be hard for [our family] the rest of our lives.”
Brock Korves with his little sister, Brett Grace Korves.Samantha Kallal/ Sugarfoor Photography
That same month, Brett’s siblings, Todd Korves and Kayla Bishop, set up a foundation calledBrett’s First Responders. The group focuses on assisting families of first responders who were not injured in the line of duty, like Brett. They also work with the community to develop scholarship programs for those looking to become firefighters.
Brett Korves’ colleagues at the firehouse with his daughter, Brett Grace Korves.Samantha Kallal/ Sugarfoor Photography
Shortly after the firefighter died,Sugarfoot Photographyowner Samantha Kallal learned about the heartbreaking story in her community. Wanting to help the family, Kallal reached out to Alex and offered to do a free newborn photo shoot for Brett Grace.
Alex agreed, and together, the pair decided to take the photos at the place where Brett spent so much of his time: the Swansea Firehouse.
Adding an even sweeter touch to their idea, Alex and Kallal invited all of Brett’s colleagues to join, including his father, fire department lieutenant Jack Korves.
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“I wanted to do anything I could to help them,” Kallal, who specializes in photographing newborns, toldGMA. “We expected two or three guys to show up, and then we would just take a couple of quick pictures before going to my studio.”
However, on that morning, Alex and Kallal were in for a major surprise when more than 20 of Brett’s colleagues arrived to take the photos with little Brett Grace.
“We showed up and 26 of them were there, smiling and ready to go,” Kallal told the outlet. “I figured we were onto something special.”
Brett Grace Korves with her grandfather Jack Korves and her late father’s colleagues.Samantha Kallal/ Sugarfoor Photography
As the photos continue to go viral, Alex toldGMAthat they represent how their daughter has a strong support system behind her as she grows up without her dad.
“I just want Brett Grace to realize that even though her father has passed,” she explained toGMA, “she has all this outpouring support from all these men, too.”
source: people.com
