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Born of the Waters 3 of 3

10/19/2017

These stories are the third set of a three-part series highlighting the personal Labor and delivery journeys of Houston-area families. They each overcame frightening circumstances to safely deliver during the historic flooding brought on by Hurricane Harvey.

Click the button bellow to read the first and second set of stories.

Born of the Waters 1 of 3

Born of the Waters 2 of 3

Wyatt Robert

August 25, 2017

In late August my family and I were preparing for Hurricane Harvey and the birth of our second child. I was asked to come in early on Friday, August 25 for my scheduled c-section. My delivery was beautiful and our family came together to welcome our new addition. On Saturday, my husband left the hospital to prepare for work and my sister-in-law came to stay with me. That night Houston was pummeled with a relentless downpour of heavy rain. Sunday, August 27 the morning nurses notified us the hospital was on lock down due to severe flooding. Back home, our house was without power. I was relieved to hear we had not flooded but, it was still raining! On Monday, I was ready to be released. Our power was back on at home and we were all eager to be together again. It took my husband hours to navigate the high water to reach the hospital. Just as we were packing to leave we received notice that our power was out again at home. We stayed at the hospital for another night. On Tuesday my husband was able to access a generator that powered our entire house. It was such a blessing! We lost all our refrigerated food during the power outage. My Mom generously set out to replenish our kitchen. I was finally ready to leave the hospital. My son had been staying with our in-laws and had developed an ear infection. Luckily, the pediatrician checking on our baby before we left also examined my oldest and prescribed medicine for him. That afternoon we safely made it home. Electricity was finally restored Saturday afternoon after being out for nearly a week. We are so thankful for all our nurses, friends and family who helped us bring our baby home safety.

Aviana Navayah

August 29, 2017

I was 36 weeks pregnant when Hurricane Harvey made landfall and I had no idea how bad it was going to get. On Sunday, August 27 I was having contractions at home. Ankle deep water consumed my house. My pregnancy had been high risk and I knew I was having high blood pressure. I desperately needed to get to the hospital but raising water made nearly all the roads impassable. That evening the water was almost to my knees and I knew I had to get to the hospital. My parents and I made the terrifying trip to my grandparents home in Temple. It was dark and we encountered one road closure after another. We had to cross the Brazos river and that was frightening but, there was no other way. It took nearly 6 hours, twice as long as normal, to get there. It was an emotional rollercoaster but, once we made it safely to the hospital in temple I was so relieved. I thought I would just be monitored at the hospital and then go home. When they told me I was going to have the baby I immediately panicked! My fiancé was trapped by high waters in Houston. There was no way he could make it to my delivery. The nurses were amazing and helped me to video chat with him so he could see the birth of our child. Early in the morning on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 I welcomed our beautiful baby girl into the world. We felt safe and fortunate in the midst of so much loss and tragedy.

Danyielle Aimi

August 25, 2017

Hurricane Harvey was another storm in a series of trials for my family. The category 4 hurricane was the climax of an extremely difficult and unexpected pregnancy. We had already endured several hospital stays and emergency scares. On Wednesday, August 23 I suffered a severe placental abruption and was rushed to the hospital. I was terrified and alone. I was then transferred to another Hospital where I was told I'd need to be induced. We had been planning to deliver in a birth center with a midwife. I cried and prayed fervently for my baby's safety. Preoccupied with the well being of my baby, I was completely oblivious to Harvey's destruction. I was unaware of everything outside of my newborn from from the moment she was placed on my chest. I stayed in the hospital for a week after my daughter, Danyielle, was born. Our apartment had been destroyed by chest-deep flood waters. All of our belongings were covered with algae, mold and mildew. The hospital wouldn't release us until I could provide an address for where I would be staying. We had lost everything and the hotels were full. We were finally able to find a room in Alvin to bring our baby home to. I didn't feel as bereaved as I anticipated when I saw the remnants of our home. When I looked in my daughter's eyes, I was humbled and overcome by emotion. I knew I could rebuild as long as I had her. It has been a difficult road the past few weeks, but we're forging a new family together one day at a time.

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Born of the Waters 2 of 3

9/25/2017

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These stories are the second of a three-part series highlighting the personal Labor and delivery journeys of Houston-area families. They each overcame frightening circumstances to safely deliver during the historic flooding brought on by Hurricane Harvey.

Click the button bellow to read the first set stories.

Born of the Waters 1 of 3

Kaleb David
August 29, 2017

On Thursday, August 24th I went to my weekly check-up with my doctor. At my appointment, she said My body was preparing to deliver soon. I urged her to induce me because I didn’t want to go into labor during the hurricane but, I was not far enough along for induction. I left the doctor’s office feeling nervous. On my way home, I started laboring and called my husband to prepare him for a hospital trip. When I got home my other children came running to the door and yelled “Are we having the baby now?!" with such excited that it warmed my heart. As we drove to the hospital my contractions were growing stronger and more frequent. At the hospital, my triage nurse told us that many pregnant moms were coming in with false labor. I was thankful to be there and in labor; My greatest fear was being unable to get to the hospital because of the hurricane Harvey. I labored for 6 hours and met my precious baby boy, Kaleb at 1:34 am on Friday, August 25. When they handed me Kaleb for the first time I cried out to God in thanksgiving for answering my prayers. I settled into my hospital room around 4:00 am. All I could watch on the TV was hurricane Harvey coverage. My mind raced with anxiety as I contemplated being hospitalized during a hurricane. The next day my family was able to visit and meet Kaleb. My heart was warmed to see their love for him. I couldn’t have been any happier. Our visit was cut short as a nurse notified us the hospital was being put on lockdown at 7:00 pm. No one would be able to come or go after that time. I started to panic and worry as my husband left with other two children in preparation of heavy rain. I sat in bed with my eyes fixated on the news. I hated being separated from my family. Late that night, as I was breastfeeding Kaleb, the power went off. Those few minutes alone in the dark with my newborn were terrifying. I couldn’t help but think of the worst case scenarios. I wanted to go home and be with my family. On Saturday, August 26 my son and I were released to go home; I was so relieved. My husband came to pick me up and we hurried to get home ahead the worst of the storm. As we were leaving the hospital, I kept thinking to myself how God is so good. The name Kaleb is symbolic of devotion to God. God’s timing was perfect in all aspects of my labor and delivery experience.

Katherine Ann
August 29, 2017

At 3:00am on August 29 my water broke and intense contractions rippled through my body. I was in labor and things were progressing quickly. I woke up my husband and told him it was time to go to the hospital. I didn't know if we were going to make it to the hospital in time. It was just days after the Houston area had received historic amounts of rain. Roads were flooded throughout the region making travel nearly impossible and it was still raining. We called 911 and while I was being transported I felt a strong urge to push. The EMTs pleaded with me not to push until we got to the hospital. I was terrified and overwhelmed. I started hyperventilating and losing sensation in my hands. At the hospital and they took me straight to the delivery room. I was fully dilated and ready to have my baby. I felt so much relief to be at the hospital and able to safely deliver just minutes after our arrival! I am so thankful for my healthy hurricane Harvey baby.

Graeson Kane
August 27, 2017

On August 26,2017 I was just days away from the due date of my 5th son. Hurricane Harvey had made landfall pushing severe thunderstorms across Houston and I was starting to labor. I called my doctor's office and a nurse advised me to time my contractions. As the hours passed my pains grew stronger and more frequent. I knew I would not be laboring long. The nurse urged me to go to the hospital but, with heavy rains and flooding, I feared I wouldn't be able to make it there. My family began trying to reach emergency services by phone but, we couldn't get through. Desperately, we tried calling for over an hour before we were connected and placed on a wait list for the ambulance. During this time a family member posted on social media asking if anyone in our community could help. I was in active labor now. My cousin came to our home with supplies in preparation to assist us with my delivery. We maintained contact with the nurse by phone as she coached me through breathing techniques. Several neighbors, including a retired midwife, walked though the storm to assist me in anyway possible. Shortly thereafter, high-water responders arrived. A sheriff walked up the porch, put on gloves and said, "Ok let's do this!" Once they determined I was stable, they were able to get me to the ambulance. I felt the continual urge to bear down but, the EMTs said "no, don't do that!" We all knew my baby was coming quickly. The ambulance driver checked to see if I was crowning (a part of delivery when the baby's head starts to emerge) and said, "Yup, that's that's head!" They closed doors and we took off. I tried to avoid pushing but, I could feel baby coming. I pushed and cried, "he's coming out!" My baby projected from my body as the EMT and husband scrambled to grab him. He was born partially en-caul (in his water sac) which the EMT removed before placing him in my husband's arms. It was 3:15am. The ambulance pulled over to clean us both up and clamp my son's cord. We were finally transported to St. Joseph's Women's Center for recovery and monitoring. We are blessed to have our 5th sweet, healthy baby boy and will not soon forget his action-packed entrance into the world.

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Born of the Waters 1 of 3

9/21/2017

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These stories are the first of a three-part series highlighting the personal Labor and delivery journeys of Houston-area families. They each overcame frightening circumstances to safely deliver during the historic flooding brought on by Hurricane Harvey.

Click the button below to read the second set of stories.

Born of the Waters 2 of 3

Mila Nikole
August 28, 2017

My labor started late in the evening of August 27th. It had been raining heavily for hours and we nervously watched as water raised in our neighborhood. My emotions flashed between fear and anxiety. Hurricane Harvey was blowing heavy rains across the Houston area and I had been experiencing hours of quickening contractions. I was desperate to find a way to the hospital. With tears streaming down my face and growing contractions, I logged on to our neighborhood's app and wrote that I was in labor and needed help. My neighbors came to our rescue. Complete strangers helped us locate two nurses, including a labor and delivery specialist. Moments later people were arriving to help. It was then that I felt a peace wash over me. I knew God was in control of our delivery. A neighbor with a large truck offered to take us to the hospital. I exclaimed, "Yes! Let's go!" My neighbor that works in labor and delivery rode with us there. She kept me calm and contacted the hospital to let them know we were on our way. We arrived at the emergency center and after a short time, our beautiful baby girl was born. Hurricane Harvey showed me that amongst all the devastation and heartbreak within our city, God can still show us the beauty of His love.

John Edward
August 26, 2017

I started having contractions in the afternoon on August 25th, the night when the rain started. We decided to go to the hospital later that evening, but I wasn't progressing quickly enough and was sent home to rest. That didn't happen, once I was home my contractions began again. This time they were closer together and more frequent which worried me. Early the next morning we headed out in the heavy rain to the hospital. I was most definitely progressing now but, an ultrasound revealed my baby had flipped and was now feet first in the birth canal. As the storm raged outside I was rushed into an emergency c-section. We welcomed our handsome son into the world just minutes before the lights went out in the operating room. The surgeon was suturing me when the room went dark. He called out for someone to grab their phone so he could finish. Thankfully the lights quickly came back on. Even though my son and I were healthy after delivery; we couldn't leave the hospital. I desperately wanted to be reunited with my 3 year-old daughter, but severe flooding had us land locked. Despite my eventful stay, were fortunate to be able to make it to the hospital and return home to a dry home.

Brooks Conrad
August 29, 2017

I woke up on August 27th to water approaching our door step and contractions 15-20 minutes apart. I knew there was no way my midwife could reach me and began to prepare myself for an unassisted home birth. Emergency services were overwhelmed and unable to help. I called 911 only to be put on a waiting list. The coast guard lines were inaccessible. The rain was unrelenting and the water was steadily rising. We packed backpacks and I leaned out of my second story window with a white towel hoping to flag a rescuer. You could hear boats but, they couldn't see us. I felt helpless. Eventually, I waded out through 3' of water to flag down an a rescue boat. Our family of 5 was boated to dry land and I broke down in tears. The devastation was unimaginable; everything was underwater and I was still laboring. Once we were settled in at a shelter a paramedic was able to reach me using a city dump truck. It was a very rough and bumpy 15-minute ride. I arrived at the hospital about 5:30pm on Sunday, and delivered a perfect baby boy on Tuesday, August 29th.

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Beach Minis | Galveston Texas Photographer

7/28/2017

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I had so much fun with all of these wonderful families on the beach this past weekend,

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Canel Maternity | Galveston County Maternity Photographer

7/18/2017

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Nathally is expecting her third baby, Isabella, this fall. Let's just say that Isabella is a miracle. Her life has already been a source of so much joy for Nathally and her whole family.

At just 17 weeks of pregnancy, Nathally was informed that Isabella was diagnosed with fetal Sacrococcogyeal Teratoma. Sacrococcogyeal Teratoma is a rare tumor that grows from the tailbone of a developing baby. The tumor puts stress on a baby's rapidly growing body and heart as they all work to utilize the same blood supply. This can cause a weakening of the heart which is a major concern for doctors as they monitor Isabella's growth.

Isabella's tumor is also growing partially inside her body which may effect the formation of her bladder. While doctors believe the tumor is unlikely cancerous, she will still require multiple surgeries to remove the tissue and correct any damage caused by the growth.

Nathally and her family have have been on an emotional roller coaster. They remain hopeful as Isabella has regular ultrasound appointments and sees dozens of specialists who help navigate her diagnosis to ensure that she enjoys a happy, healthy life.

Isabella is so loved. Friends and family have been praying for her along this journey. It would be an understatement to say that everyone is extremely excited and anxious to meet this amazing little girl.

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Ashton | League City Texas Newborn Photographer

5/19/2017

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It was so wonderful photographing this family, both of their boys are absolutely adorable.

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Charlotte | Angelton Texas Baby Photographer

5/18/2017

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I absolutely love this theme that mom went with, it turned out so pretty!

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Alivia | Houston Texas Baby Photographer

5/17/2017

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Alivia is growing up way to fast!

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Abigail | Houston Texas Baby Photographer

5/15/2017

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The next time I see this cutie we will be doing her 12 month session. Check out her helmet, her mom hand paints them, doesn't she do an amazing job? Check out her page! Samantha's Creative Corner