What a special experience...

Several months back I received a phone call from a woman…” Hi, my name is Carina. My mother is Deb from your ward. She told me that I should call and talk to you.” That first conversation lasted over an hour. Carina was pregnant with twins and lost one of the babies. Not long after that she found out that her sweet little boy would be born with Hydrocephalus {also known as water on the brain}. At the point of our first phone conversation all she had heard was bad news, no hope. She was even asked to think about if she would want to terminate the pregnancy. My heart broke for her as she shared her story with me. It became very clear to me why her mother had given her my phone number. I poured my heart out to her about everything that I have learned over the years. I told her things that I wish someone would have told me eleven years ago. What started out as a “mentorship” quickly turned into a friendship. She called me after every ultrasound, bad doctors appointment, or just when she needed to cry.

Christmas morning she gave birth to her beautiful little boy. He had surgery two days ago to put a shunt into his brain to drain the fluid. Yesterday I received a phone call from my friend to let me know how he was doing. She then invited me to meet him!!! I was so excited and could not wait to meet him today. I wasn’t sure what to expect or what the mood would be like when I arrived. I walked into an amazing sight, Carina holding her baby for the very first time. {Remember my story about the picture and holding my sweet Bubba for the first time?} It took everything in me to not start crying. It was a beautiful sight. I quickly took out my camera and captured that same moment for her.

He is a fighter. There were remnants of tape from the oxygen they weaned him off still on his little cheeks. He has a tiny little nose and the same thumbs as his mother. He responded to his Daddy playing the guitar with his little man O faces. Oh, it was just lovely. I am so grateful for this friendship and that they invited me to be part of such a special and trying time in their lives. I know that they would truly appreciate your prayers for their sweet little Cayden. He has a long way to go but like I said …. He is a fighter! He also has two AMAZING parents that love him dearly! {and a little sister that can’t get enough of him.} I have no doubt that he is yet another one of God’s special little miracles.

Thank you for letting me part of this very special day!!!!