MIRACLE BABY

Recently Josh & I learned about the American Child Photographers Charity Guild (wwwacpcg.org) A non-profit, volunteer based organization of child photographers from all over the country  who have come together to form a guild dedicated to children in need and their families. These photographers across the nation have networked together to provide families of desperately ill children free keepsake portraits.
We decided it was time to pay back the community for all the years of joy and success we have had in photographing happy smiling kids, so we joined. This week we had our first opportunity to participate. We'll let you read the story in her mothers own words but be prepared for a very HAPPY ENDING.

My daughter Ariana Destiny is a true miracle. Miracles don't come often but when they do you will recognize them. The journey of my daughter has been a long journey. When I found out I was pregnant last July it was the happiest time of my life. Early that year I had suffered a terrible ectopic pregnancy. I didn't know If I couldn't get pregnant again so I was shocked that I got pregnant right away. Up to Nov everything was going fine until we had our sonogram and the Doctor gave me and my husband this look and knew we were in trouble. He called my Doctor and told him that I had a short cervix and baby is coming out. I was only 22 weeks so I was put on bed rest. Every week I had to go to see a high risk specialist this one particular week they tested my urine and said that I had protein in my urine. So the next week I was scheduled to see the Dr, but I never made it there.
On January 7th, 2008 my husband rushed me to the ER. My blood pressure it was 189/112 and I had developed preclampsia. I had never heard of this before. They were concerned because I was only 27 weeks so they admitted me because of the short cervix and the high blood pressure. They were able to get me to 29 weeks and 5 days when my body started shut down. They were losing me and and Ariana. They did a c-section and Ariana was born. I don't remember much after that. I heard her cry and I didn't get to see her until I got a called from the NICU said that Ariana coded and they worked on her for 6 hrs to bring her back. My daughter was a very sick baby, she was touch and go, she had heart surgery at 6 weeks. Time and time and again she was touch and go. She would get better then get worse. But I never stopped praying, I kept my faith. There were times when I felt like giving up every week I would get calls for the Hospital telling what had happened to Ariana, the worst calls were early in the morning.
She has been in three hospitals for 171 days. She weighed only 2lbs and 1oz when she was born. today she weighs 17lbs. She was on 17 medications and is on none now. According to the Dr's my daughter is supposed to be blind, deaf, not able to move but she doing everything a 7 month is supposed to be doing. She is very alert and she so talkative. She doesn't need physical therapy which is weird considering she had been in the hospital her whole life. She does not have to see her lung Dr and her high risk DR. until DEC. This is weird also according to the Doctors she had the worst lungs a baby could have.
They told me they never had a baby like Ariana that is doing so well. Her records don't' match her. I just wanted to share my story. People are so blessed when they have healthy babies. I never had baby shower and at one point I could never accept gifts. It doesn't matter if you have a boy or girl as long as the baby is healthy. Some time I hear people complaining about their pregnancy or new born baby, when you have your health you have everything.
My husband and I would  like to say thank you for taking our first family portrait.  The pictures came out great.