Winning Mom #2

The second Mom I chose for my May Mother’s Day contest was Tina. Tina, her husband and her son (Sonny) had a rough several months.  Sonny was born with a mild heart murmur, but they were told it was probably nothing to worry about and that he would likely outgrow it. He went through all of his first well-checks with flying colors. Then, at a routine appointment when he was 10 months, the doctor said his heart murmur was actually quite serious and that he required open heart surgery immediately. Can you imagine?

Here is the original entry:

I’m submitting my good friend Tina. Her first born son, Sonny, was born with a heart murmur. At his first cardiology appointment at about a week old, he was diagnosed with VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect). At almost 10 months he was also diagnosed with DCRV (Double-Chambered Right Ventricle) and was advised to be admitted into Children’s Phoenix Hospital immediately! Luckily, he had open heart surgery on March 11th to correct both defects. After Sonny’s heart surgery he unfortunately developed medical NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis) and had stomach surgery [second surgery] on March 22th. Finally he was released from Phoenix Children’s Hospital on April 14th. Although out of the hospital he is on a 24hr feeding tube and goes to physical therapy and speech therapy weekly. He continues to recover at home and is doing well in the love and care of his mom, dad, and grandmother. To add insult to injury, with the economy as bad as it is we had lay-offs and Tina was one of our valued employees that lost her job.

Tina’s talked several times throughout the year about setting up and appointment somewhere to get photos taken of Sonny, but just really has not had time lately to focus on that. With all that she and her husband have had to deal with, I know that a portrait session would mean the world to them. She’s talked about having a “healthy baby party this fall.” Your photographs are something they would cherish for years to come!

It’s not that Tina didn’t do what I think most Mom’s would do; drop everything and be there every minute for your child as he recovers from surgeries and setbacks. But I felt that while most moms happily go about their child’s first year and can plan photoshoots to capture all the milestones, that simply was not an option for Tina and her husband. So I wanted to give them that. I think we got some cute pictures of little Sonny:

Tina wanted a shot of Sonny’s scar, to show all that he has been through and what a trooper he is!