There are unforgettable moments in time.
Everyday moments that turn remarkable, and milestones that are anticipated.
Neyir and David and their oldest son Maxwell have had both.
I met them on the day their second son Lennox was born,
early, stillborn, and beautiful.
I was struck by how prepared and composed Neyir was. As I have gotten to know her more, I know that is because she is incredibly down to earth, honest and spiritual and supported by an amazing family and friends.
I was privileged to see them again after their third son Lloyd was born,
full term, healthy, and beautiful.
This is their story...
Maxwell was a wonderful child, and Neyir and David knew they wanted to add to their family. This had proved challenging as three pregnancies with disheartening outcomes followed their son's birth. At ten weeks into her fifth pregnancy, Neyir's ultrasound was slightly suspect, but it wasn't until five months in that her doctor revealed that there was a serious situation at hand with their yet unborn child.
The family turned to God, each other, family, and friends for strength over the months that followed.
They stayed unbelievably strong in the face of unspeakable heartache.
Neyir writes, "I am thankful that our
wonderful sonographer was the one to tell us that baby’s heart had
stopped. I am thankful that my parents were able to get in the car and
come to be with us and Maxwell. I am beyond thankful for our amazing
church and friends who have already rallied round, visited and organized
meals for the next week. As always I am thankful for our OB and
midwives for their kindness, honesty and thoughtfulness."
On April 13, 2010, Lennox John was stillborn.
I occasionally volunteer with an organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep to offer my photography services to families in tragic circumstances who choose to keep the memories of their brief time with their sweet children as tangible as possible. This is what brought me to this family that day.
Neyir writes, "We were also able to take advantage of an amazing photographer named Chelse who took truly beautiful shots of Lennox, David and I. In total we had nearly 8 hours with Lennox and in all truthfulness I
would go through another labor right now for a further 8 hours."
It was inspiring to meet this family. To be able to capture David's strength, Neyir's faith, and Lennox's innocense from behind my camera. To be able to give these parents something to hold onto as they journey through life remembering dear Lennox is an honor.
Of her last moments with her son, Neyir writes, "I take the time to talk to Lennox, I do know that he is already gone,
already begun or ended his journey to be with God but because I don’t
know when that actually happened I tell him the things I would have said
in those moments. I tell him all about the people I know are waiting
for him, I tell him to look for his siblings that they will help him. I
wonder what the transition will be like for him. I tell him that I
think Maxwell would have been a good big brother, if a bit
unpredictable. I wonder what his personality would have been like –
Would he have been as rambunctious as Maxwell or worse – Would he have
sent my household into even further disarray? Would he have been the
calmer more clear-headed one? Or would he have been more mischievous?
Tongue in cheek I tell him to ‘keep out of trouble’. I can’t conceive a
son on mine’s personality without temptation. I tell him how I can’t
wait to see him when he is whole. I wonder as I tell him about his
siblings if they will seem older or younger than him. I tell him how
very much I love him and give him a final kiss, I am absolutely amazed
by how soft and delicate the skin is on his forehead. I ask God to give
me strength."
And just two years later, due on the very same day as Lennox was born,
the family gets ready for their next child and remains amazingly strong.
Neyir writes,
"I fully believe that God can safely deliver this baby to us, I have
absolute faith that we will leave the hospital with a wonderfully
healthy baby. Yet I know this as well with all my heart, this is a
fallen and broken world we inhabit and that might not happen and every
day that I get closer to my due date and beyond those stillbirth
statistics inch higher and higher. But know this: my faith is not shaken, I know I am loved, am
adored by an amazing God, I know that I am blessed beyond measure and
that He will carry us through to the other side wherever that might be."
On April 16, 2012, Lloyd Hamilton was born.
And so their story continues, with a new little one to love and raise.
A saying I found somewhere...I don't know where it comes from but I use it a lot:
With every child, the world begins again.....
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