Posts
Many of you have been so supportive of us and of the family we met in April - Josh and Rebecca Chandler. As fate would have it, they actually found out about us through a friend on Facebook.
About Josh and Rebecca...and baby Nolen
Josh and Rebecca are a young couple who have just had their third child, a precious, but very sick little boy whom they have lovingly named Nolen. The name Nolen means "fighter" and they chose his name because they knew early on during their pregnancy that they were up against a very serious situation regarding Nolen's health.
Polycystic Kidney Disease.. and The Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Organization
In utero, Nolen was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). He was given only a 1% chance of survival. Initially, Josh and Rebecca contacted Beverly to inquire about her affiliation with the non-profit organization called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Beverly is a photographer with this organization and provides complimentary photography and services to families who will never be able to take their newborn home from the hospital.
Although very hopeful that they would never need these services, Josh and Rebecca did everything they could to prepare, and talked with Beverly about providing NILMDTS services to them should they ever have the need.
Over the term of their pregnancy, Chuck and I got to know Josh and Rebecca and their sweet children, Caleb and Havanna. We have kept up with them over the past several months, provided maternity photography for them, have prayed for them and have asked others to do so as well.
Our First Blog About Their Story
We blogged about them and shared their story here back in May. Here's a link to their initial story, which we entitled "Praying For A Miracle - The Story of Josh and Rebecca Chandler"...
Josh is an officer with the Georgia State Patrol. He also works a part time job at Hartsfield in Security. Rebecca is a stay-at-home mom. She is also a photographer and asked me if we would provide birth photography for them during Nolen's birth.
Birth Photography
Beverly was honored and delighted to be at the birth for them. They went before hospital administrators at Northside to get this approved, since the birth would be by C-Section and because the birth would be a very high-risk delivery with full teams of medical professionals in attendance. Northside agreed to allow a photographer in to be with them to document their day.
This past Friday, Rebecca's doctors determined that an emergency C-Section was needed because of a serious drop in Nolen's blood pressure. Josh called Beverly at 7:30 am and asked me to come to the hospital. As fate would have it, I had a series of other photography sessions scheduled for that day including infant twins, a two year old, a five year old and a family session. Luckily, Chuck had taken the day off from work at Wachovia/Wells Fargo, so he headed in one direction and I headed in another.
Nolen's birth was amazing and the team of medical professionals at Northside were truly spectacular. The love that Josh and Rebecca have for each other was evident from the moment I arrived. Their friend and support person, Julia Roberts was also there with them. Julia has been there for them since day one. She is an advocate for families who find themselves facing a situation involving PKD - Polycystic Kidney Disease. She has been their friend and has gotten them through these past 9 months by sharing her first-hand knowledge and by giving her love and support.
Panic, Fear, Worry....
The situation in the delivery room was full of a range of emotions....love, excitement, worry, smiles, tears, panic and fear...The moment Nolen was born, he was whisked several feet away by a team who had been waiting with caring hands and loving hearts. Doctors immediately began working on him to get him to breathe. He was put on a ventilator and once he was stable enough to be moved, he was taken to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). He has been there ever since. His prognosis is not good....
Always By His Side...stroking his arms, kissing his head....And Praying for him
Josh and Rebecca have been by Nolen's side 24-7 since Friday. They have prayed without ceasing. They started a Caring Bridge website a few weeks ago and continue to provide updates on this site about Nolen's condition.
Josh called me this morning and asked me to update their Caring Bridge site for them. I had prepared a music video for them using the photography from Nolen's birth, in celebration of his life. Josh asked if I would post a link to the music video on their caring bridge site, which I did earlier today.
This family is going through something that no family should ever have to go through. There are many people who continue to follow their caring bridge updates. Perfect strangers have reached out to them and have signed their Guestbook on Caring Bridge to let them know that they are praying for Nolen and for them. This has been amazing to Josh and Rebecca and they have so appreciated reading the guestbook entries left by people from all over the world.
Please...Visit Their Caring Bridge Website
Below is a link to their Caring Bridge. Please take a minute to read their story located on the "MY STORY" tab. Read their Journal Updates and sign their Guestbook. If you are at a loss for words, just tell them who you are...how you found out about them and that they are in your thoughts and prayers. That's all you need to say...That's what they need to hear....
Thank you to all of you (and there are many)...who continue to pray for this family. I know that many of you have had to walk this same or a similar path in your life. Even if you haven't walked in their shoes....let them know you're thinking of them.
You'll find the music video of Nolen's birth posted within a journal entry on their Caring Bridge site that is dated today.... TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2010 12:10 PM, EDT
A good friend of mine, Brenda Baker, wrote something on their Caring Bridge that I feel is well worth repeating....
"He is here for a reason and great things will come from his life, no matter how long or short it may be. I pray for strength for you as his parents and for peace and happiness in your lives."
How To Find God in the Midst of All of This....
Josh and Rebecca are learning early on about Faith, about leaning on each other, and about how people with faith that they don't even know are praying for their child. They are so desperately trying to seek God's presence in the midst of this. I pray for them without ceasing.
I trust that some how, some way, something GOOD will come from this for them. May God continue to put people in their path that can strengthen their faith, and may He wrap his arms around them and strengthen them and bring them comfort & peace that only He can in the days ahead.
The Nolen Bradford Chandler Fund
A fund has just been established by their friends, called the Nolen Bradford Chandler fund....to help Josh and Rebecca.
Here is a link:
Beverly
No comments:
Post a Comment