This angel was born just days before Christmas, and I was privileged to photograph him on New Year’s Eve. What a perfect gift for these first time parents! Dad plays baseball, so we were sure to use his glove in their first born son’s photos. The pets would not be left out of the family photos either! They jumped in as soon as we all went into the nursery. Love fills and flows through their home.
Everyone knew this one! I guess we are all very familiar with the shape of the world’s most famous mouse. Isn’t that excellent marketing for them? Disney rules the world, I tell you, and I’m not really complaining. We recently took a trip to the “Happiest Place on Earth” for the National High School Cheerleader Competition. It was insane and fun, and our cheerleaders performed very well! They kept the park open for extra magic hours one night, and the characters were everywhere! I have never seen so many characters in such a short time. I loved it! Thanks so much for playing the macro mystery!
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
Twenty weeks into their pregnancy, this beautiful, faithful young couple, full of hope and dreams for their first child, heard the devastating diagnosis. Their unborn son had Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). The chances he would survive to full term were low. The probability that he would survive after delivery was low. Julie and Jeff were faced with choice of terminating the pregnancy, delivering the baby and allowing him to go Home, or fighting and praying that God would allow him to live through multiple surgeries and somehow heal his little body. They chose to pray. They chose fight.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
As weeks of pregnancy past, Jeff and Julie made the decision to do things with Jacob that he might never get to do. He went to a baseball game. He rode a Harley. He flew on an airplane. He served the homeless. He listened to songs and bedtime stories. When the day finally arrived, Jacob was delivered at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Contradicting the predictions, he took two breaths on his own. They were told he wouldn’t cry, but he let out two little squeals.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
The following hours, days, nights, and months were filled with prayers, tears, fears, setbacks and victories. Jacob continued to fight. God continued to perform miracles. Jeff and Julie continued to celebrate every moment with their son. After months of intense medical treatments Jacob’s progress amazed even the doctors.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
Against long odds, Jacob eventually got to go home with his parents. He got to have a first birthday party. He got be a big brother.
It was my honor to photograph this beautiful family and share with you their miraculous story. Their life is full of joy and gratitude, and it wasn’t supposed to be this way.
To read all of Jacob’s story, click here to read the Tuley’s blog.
Click here to read more stories from CDH families and learn more about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
The macro mystery for October 14 was a hermit crab! The kids and I have been catching them and holding them hostage for a couple hours just to watch them. Don’t worry. I make sure they don’t get too hot and that they have fresh sea water. It is so interesting to me that each one has a different personality. One would bury itself in the sand while the other would desperately try to find the way out of the bucket. Another was content to just hang out. They are so tiny and so detailed with their intricate little mouth parts. They are beautifully and wonderfully made. Thank you so much for guessing!
