Baby Beth

I first met this family when I photographed their first-born Katie. We had a newborn session scheduled, but Katie had some serious complications. She was diagnosed with Ebstein’s Anomaly, a rare congenital heart defect. Katie had open-heart surgery at just two days old.

By the time I saw Katie, she was almost 3 months old. I remember the scar on her sweet little chest. She fell asleep during her shoot and I noticed her amazing eyelashes. This little baby was beautiful. We focused on making her comfortable and Krista, Katie’s mother, and I talked a little bit about what they were going through. However, I had no idea how serious her condition was. Baby Katie lived for 10 months; she passed away in April of 2014.

Shortly after Katie passed, her little sister Elizabeth was born. I met Elizabeth at 3 months as well. I saw so many similarities in the two. Beth has a lot of Katie’s features. This time Jack was able to come to the shoot, Katie and Beth’s father. Jack and Krista shared with me Katie’s amazing journey. We talked about the photos from our shoot and which were their favorites. Jack loved the photos with the purple flower. I still had the purple flower so we used them for Beth too and I sent the purple flower home with them. That flower is Katie’s now. Knowing that it was once on her sweet little head made it sort of sacred.

Beth is a beautiful girl, just like her sister. She seemed to smile more when she had on the purple flower and Katie’s pink hat. I have always believed that the babies waiting to come into this world pass by those who are leaving. I have no doubt Beth and Katie will always have a connection.

Jack and Krista started the Hunny Bunny Project in Katie’s name. The mission of The Hunny Bunny Project is to ease the hardship of illness and improve the quality of life for the kids at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and St. Vincent Women’s Hospital. The money donated is used to purchase things such as mobiles, strollers, walkers, games, puzzles and other items to make a hospital stay more comfortable.

To learn more visit: http://www.hunnybunnyproject.org/

Click here to visit Katie’s blog post

Jack and Krista, you are beautiful parents!