“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” — Maya Angelou
Today was the first time I entered the NICU since Chance was born. Today I met 2 day old Mason for the first time. Mason also has spina bifida. When I arrived he was laying in the prone position. The sight of this sweet baby boy brought back a rush of emotions and memories for me.
Just like Chance, he was still connected to many wires and a feeding tube. He was just taken off of oxygen today, the first time since his surgery to close his back was completed Monday.
When I arrived the nurse was checking in on him and changing him.
Like most newborns, his eyes were glued shut. He was such a sleepy little guy, though it was tough for him not to squirm with all the wires connected to him.
Mason’s mother Mary had contacted me a few weeks back. She learned Mason had spina bifida around the same time I had Chance. I knew all this time that somehow my baby boy would help so many others….that he would somehow help me help others….I didn’t quite envision the impact he would have on so many people. Thanks to Chance I have connected to hundreds of mothers with children who have spina bifida. Spending a bit of time with Mary & Mason today reminded me of all those first moments, the ones that made me feel so overwhelmed, emotional and vulnerable. I can share all these personal moments with you but I don’t think its something anyone will ever truly understand unless they’ve been challenged with having a baby with spina bifida.
Mary showered her baby boy with kisses. He began to smile. Something tells me he knows how much he’s loved.
Mary mentioned that she had yet to see Mason’s eyes open. It was so rewarding to be able to capture these “first” moments for her.
The first time Mary saw Mason’s eyes open I was there.
I know the last two days have been an emotional rollercoaster for Mary and her family. I know because I have been there. But boy was it uplifting for us to see her baby boy open his eyes today. Sometimes it’s the littlest moments that fill our heart with the most happiness.
Though Mason was born into this world with spina bifida and is likely to encounter challenges in his lifetime…just look at his sweet face…and you’d never knew he had spina bifida.
Mason’s tiny hands were curled up. This was the same arm he had his IV in so he couldn’t move it much.
Due to his spina bifida, Mason was born with two club feet. In the near future he’ll require casts to correct them. For now he keeps his feet curled up like most newborns.
While we there Mason was being fed through his feeding tube.
Mary decided to face Mason so she could see his eyes open better. The moments were totally priceless…no words can really express the love felt today. Something tells me you all may be able to sense it through some of these photos taken. Mason seemed quite happy to have his Momma talking to him.
It’s only a matter of time before I take Mason’s official newborn photos…until then I will keep praying for this sweet baby boy that his time in the NICU is limited and that he is home with his family where he belongs.
by Amanda Kern
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