She’s one! Meet sweet Sophia. Her story is beautiful and full of hope. After all they’ve endured, not being able to take their newborn baby home for three months, they have a gratefulness for every day they now enjoy with her. Mom was awesome to share a little bit about Sophia’s story with me. These pictures not only celebrate this special milestone, but also that she is so full of life.
Describe Sophia’s personality.
Sophia is a little character. She is sweet, soft, loving, one minute then curious, funny and a fireball the next. She is a very determined little girl who will steel your heart with her smiles, giggles and amazing hugs!
What makes her laugh and giggle?
When daddy whistles, peek-a-boo, playing with her toys or when she sees pictures of herself.
Tell me about what it is to be a mom to this sweet little girl.
Nobody can understand what motherhood is until you’re a mom. This little girl is the light of my life. She makes every day amazing and makes me a better person. Being a mom to this amazing little girl is a blessing and such an honor.
Is she more of a momma’s girl, or a daddy’s girl?
She has both of us wrapped around her finger in different ways so it’s hard to say.
Tell me about her time in the NICU.
Sophia was taken by emergency C-section on June 23, 2017. She was diagnosed with an extremely rare condition called Congenital Chylothorax. This is where the plural cavities around the lungs fill up with chyle fluid and squeezes the lungs. This condition develops in the lymphatic system which is the last system to develop prior to birth. Once Sophia was born she was given chest tubes right away to start draining the fluid. This condition typically just takes time for the lymphatic system to properly regrow and in some cases surgery is required.
Sophia started her journey at 5 lbs. 7 oz. and was tough as nails. Sophia had a bit of a struggle with getting the fluid to stop. The fluid would stop, they would pull the chest tubes, and then her cavity would fill up again. She was given four different sets of chest tubes in the first month and a half in the NICU. The amazing doctors at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children decided it was time for surgery. Sophia went in for surgery August 16th to have a pluradesis procedure and ligation of her thoracic duct. The procedure went well and soon started an experimental treatment. During her surgery, they decided to take a biopsy of her lung which showed an extremely rare condition called Congenital Pulmonary Lymphangiectasia. Babies that have this condition never get off the ventilator and typically don’t survive past five days. At this point, Sophia has been fighting for almost 2 months! Over the next few weeks we started slowly introducing Sophia to formula in hopes that she would tolerated it well and it would not cause the chyle fluid to re-accumulate. This went well and showed that the surgery had worked! We were thrilled and able to finally set a date for discharge. Sophia was discharged from the hospital on September 23, exactly 90 days after she was born. It was a very difficult and emotional journey for us as parents but to see how tough our daughter is and how amazing and strong she was through all of this was truly unbelievable. We sat every day, Monday through Sunday, with her from 7 AM to 7 PM. It was so difficult to leave our daughter every night but we are truly blessed by the nursing staff and doctors of Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. Sophia was in the BEST hands.
Sophia continues to thrive and is doing amazing. We are so blessed and so excited to be celebrating her first birthday. She’s one amazing and strong little lady and we look forward to all the wonderful years of memories that are waiting!!
As you look back on the past year of her life, describe some of the most treasured moments you will forever remember.
With Sophia’s circumstances at birth, our experiences have a different and richer meaning. Each holiday or milestone is a big deal to us. One of the most memorable days was the day we finally got to take her home and become full time parents. It was amazing leaving the hospital after so long and to be able to hold her in our arms all day and night.
Sophia and family, I’m so honored to have met you and to celebrate Sophia’s life and first birthday. Thank you for this incredible honor and I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!
-Jamie
Smash Cake and Baby Photographer in Parker, Colorado
Telling Your Story
