Where do I even BEGIN! 

Well, I guess I can start at the beginning.

I first met this wonderful family in the summer of 2020 during a mom bible study. My friend had introduced me to Heather Malburg (mom). At the time I met her, she was very pregnant with her little boy Waylon. This would be her fourth, beautiful baby boy. As I got to know her more, she told me he was diagnosed in the womb with CDH. 

For those who do not know what CDH is, let me help educate you on what I know. "CDH stands for Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. This occurs when there is a hole in the diaphragm, which is the thin sheet of muscle separating the chest from the abdomen. When this gap forms during a fetus's development in the womb, the bowel, stomach or even the liver can move into the chest cavity. The presence of these abdominal organs in the chest limits the space for the lungs and can result in respiratory complications. Because CDH forces the lungs to grow in a compressed state, several aspects of their function may not develop normally until after the birth of the baby." (Johns Hopkins medicine definition)

As a mother, I can only imagine what Heather and Chris could have felt when they heard the news. They knew the times ahead of them would be difficult, but they pressed on. So shortly after I met Heather, she informed me that his chances of surviving birth would be slim if he wasn't delivered at the John Hopkins Hospital in Florida. Wow! Finding out about your babies difficulties, and then having to deliver to a completely different state and leaving your family at home AND during a pandemic. I have said this to her ever since I met her. "God has something big planned for your family". It would take a special woman to be the mother of four kids, one diagnosed with autism and now one diagnosed with CDH. 

I can remember a night specifically when I asked her best friend (Cara) how she was doing. I hadn't heard any updates in a while and I was concerned. She told me that Heather was in Florida at the time and she was having major anxiety and worry. This was right before bed when she messaged me her update. So, that night as I was asleep, I remember dreaming about her. I remember not fully being with her, but in spirit. I felt her pain guys. I literally felt her anxiety and pain and I cried and prayed over her in my dream. Praying that she would let God do His work and to FULLY trust Him so she would feel better. Next, I had another dream. I was there in the hospital with her and Waylon taking pictures of him at the hospital. What was more bazar was the fact that my best friend Brittany just moved down to Florida just recently. In my dream she drove me there and she was waiting for me as I was taking pictures of Waylon. I woke up that morning with that same feeling of anxiety in my dream. Out of curiosity, I asked Heather's best friend where the hospital was at that she was staying. She told me, so I looked it up. IT WAS LESS THAN AN HOUR AWAY FROM MY BEST FRIENDS HOME!!! AND you know what else??? I had a trip planned to see my best friend in just a few months. This would line up to Waylon still being at the hospital. So therefore I got ahold of my best friend and asked if we could possibly visit them while I was down there. Of course she said yes. UNFORTUNELY, because we were in a pandemic, one person was allowed in and it was only the parents. BOOOOOO! Then later on, because of how bad the cases were of COVID, I decided to cancel my trip. Super boo!!! It was ok though. Waylon was able to come home just in time for Christmas. What a special gift that must have been for their family! 

The power of God was over them for sure. Go Fund Me was made, they met their goal. The power of prayer was over them as well. I myself had been giving updates to my church and prayers warriors over each step to his story. Praying over him and his family. And you know what? He made it! He made it and he is the happiest little baby I have ever met. I think he knows how much he is loved. 

I still cannot believe that I was the first person to take pictures of him AND to be able to continue to capture his life. I am one honored photographer and friend!