I hope after reading this blog you take time to hug your family, appreciate your life, love Jesus and give to others.
So, when I first started my business the one thing I always knew is that I wanted to use my passion to make a difference in stranger’s lives. Of course I feel this way with all of my clients. I love that seeing one image brought tears to their eyes (mine too). I LOVE that I get excited when I know I captured exactly who that child is on that day, at this point in their life. You capture a memory. A simple expression sums up a year of your child’s life. A simple expression becomes your favorite artwork in your home. That, in itself makes me smile.
This fall, I decided I want to do my “giving back” session. I literally was beginning to blog asking clients/followers for letters describing families in need. God saved me (I think he knew I was OVER busy those days). He stepped in. I received an email from a client wanting a fall session. When I respond that I was already booked, she asked if I could shoot for a family at church. There was a lump in my throat. I explained that I was just about to do a post about my giving back session and I wanted to hear more. Just a few minutes in, my prayers were answered. This is them! After emailing with Ashley (aka super mama) I was so excited! They had just not had the time for a photo shoot and now was perfect!!
A quick, short version of their amazing story:
Rich and Ashley are two (totally handsome & beautiful) high school sweethearts who were meant to be. Five years ago (today) they said “I DO” and became ONE. Their first born (little spitfire of a cutie) was a baby girl, Kensington who is now 3 years old and just the cutest thing! In September of 2007 (just a few months after I had Reese) Ashley gave birth to her second born, a son, Jacobsen. To better your understanding of their lives 2 years ago, I took excerpt’s from their blog:
These are 2 emails from Ashley’s dad and mom as they were finding out the news. Jacobsen was 6 weeks at this time:
Jacobsen was admitted to Egleston Children’s Hospital last evening for test. Ashley will of course be staying with him; both Ashley and Rich stayed with him last night. Today they plan to take blood, and he will be evaluated by a Neurologist and a Geneticist. The problem that we see with Jacobsen is that he is not moving his legs and arms or moving his head like he should for his age. Until now, we have attributed this lack of movement to his laid back disposition; this is unlike Kensington who is a “wild woman”. Maybe Jacobsen will just be slower to develop, but the doctors are concerned. This could potentially be a serious problem, but we hope and pray that this is a problem that will correct itself as he develops or that can be corrected with diet and medication. Until the test and evaluation are completed, we wont know. Please keep Jacobsen, Ashley, Rich , and Kensington in your prayers.
Thank you so much. They are both trying to keep it together. At this time the general consensus between the team of pediatricians, neurologists and geneticists is that he has a genetic disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Blood work will be done by the geneticists this am and tomorrow the neurologists will do an EMG which is an electrode test. Hopefully we will have some results from the neurologists soon, but the blood work could take up to 2 weeks for results due to DNA and other complex tests that will be done. The doctors don’t like the way he is breathing and have him on oxygen which seems to help. If you look this up on the internet, it is very bad news. This is considered a neuro-muscular disorder. Of course the doctors arn’t 100% sure, but I would say from what each team is telling them that they are 98% sure this is what we are dealing with. It is a degenerative disorder which means that things will only go down hill from here. Ashley has asked the big question, what kind of timeline are we looking at and the drs told them that according to what plan they choose for Jacobsen, ventilators, feeding tubes, etc. as they become necessary, most babies with this disorder might see their first birthday. Needless to say we are all devastated. Sorry for going on like this, but I really believe we can all pray more effectively if we are aware. Now we just have to hope that all the drs are wrong and that this is only a minor setback and he will be up and swinging the golf club right beside his daddy a year from now. As we receive results, we will keep passing them on. At this point they don’t know when he will be able to go home. Ashley and Rich will have to be taught how to care for him before they can bring him home. Luckily with us living together we can try to help as much as possible. Kensington is being passed around and is loving all the attention. Yesterday at the hospital she kept wanting Ashley which is what Ashley needed. She is definitely a light in all this that is going on. Again thank you for your prayers, family is what sustains us at times like these.
Two years ago, Jan. 14, Jacobsen went to visit Jesus. Here is an excerpt from Ashley:
Two years ago today, Rich and I held Jacobsen for the last time. We told him that we loved him so much, that we were so sorry for everything he had been through in his four short months and finally we told him it was ok to go. The last 48 hours of his life he had gotten to the point where we could not hold him or have him laying in any way except on his stomach or he would start a massive desat. He was on 100% oxygen support and he was still not being able to hold his oxygen up at a stable level. He was pale and would occasionally open his eyes but usually it was to only moan. His whole body was heaving in attempt to breathe. The doctors told us his body was shutting down and that we could intubate him or let him go. He had already been through so much and he was so extremely weak that Rich and I both agreed it was time for him to rest. So the doctors ordered calming medications so he would not be gasping for air and for the first time in two days, Rich and I held our son. We held him and we sobbed like I have never cried in my life. Rich and I had music playing softly in the background and as Jacobsen finally left us the song that was playing was “In the presence of Jehovah”. We held him and the nurse helped us take all of his IVs and monitoring devices off. Rich and I prayed. We thanked God for the gift of Jacobsen. We thanked God for sending his son Jesus so that Jacobsen could be in heaven now with them both. We begged God to hold us because we were terrified of life without Jacobsen. Our nurse was wonderful. She helped us take molds and prints of Jacobsen’s hands and feet. After about 20 minutes we called all of our family members and friends out in the waiting room and everyone came back and took turns holding Jacobsen. It was so surreal but God was there and I felt a peace to know that after four months of almost constantly struggling to breathe, swallow, and move…. Jacobsen could finally rest. The hardest part of the whole experience was when we had done all we could do and it was time to leave. Jacobsen passed away at 12:12 in the morning and we finally left the hospital around 3:30am. I did not want to leave his little body and never see it again but at the same time Rich and I kept saying to each other, “It is just his body”. Jacobsen is whole and moving like never before now in heaven. So after multiple trips of kissing his sweet cheeks and then starting to walk to the door and then going back again we finally left. The funeral home was on their way but it was going to be awhile before they got there. Hindsight I wished I would have stayed longer and waited but we were exhausted and so many people were there and I knew they were not going to leave until we left. Here are two pictures of when we finally got to hold him before he passed away. Thank you to everyone who has remembered him with us today!!
God sent them a blessing…another little boy, who is now 12 months old, Hodges. Oh my gosh, Hodges is so cute too! He has also been diagnosed with SMA. He has the cutest little personality, too. Such a strong, handsome little man! I cried writing this blog but it wasn’t out of sadness. It was strength. What an amazing showcase of faith and strength this family possesses. I was so grateful to meet Rich and Ashley’s grandparents, moms, brother…they all have a GLOW about them. It’s the glow that only knowing Jesus Christ can give. I hope this brightens everyone’s day! It sure did mine! I’ve never met a family like them…
On another note, we had the stinkiest day to shoot (clouds, grey skies, cold) but we did it! We will do another in the Spring. For now, I hope you enjoy this beautiful faith-filled family…
How cute is Hodges??? OMG I so love this shot of his smile…
And this is my favorite…Hodges and his beautiful mama…
Fabulous big sista with her adorable sidekick…
Aren’t they such a beautiful family??? :-) Gorgeous!
Thank you so much!! I am SO glad I met you!! I can’t wait to meet again in a few months! We’ll pray for sunshine!
Thank you to everyone! What awesome grandparents Hodges and Kensington have…they are so blessed!!
by Jenn
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