Meet Miss Anela!
It’s been a long time since Jeri Hoag Photography has blogged about a newborn photography session. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for JHP as this growing business not only experienced its first partnership with another small business, FAB40 Maternity, it also launched its first ever Maternity Portrait Session Event. But rest assured, while these recent events have taken a front row seat on social media, JHP is still busily working with her clients as they welcome their new little ones into their lives.
One of her most recent clients was sweet Miss Anela. Anela’s little life is nothing short of a miracle. Anela’s mama was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. Mom underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. She was also put on an estrogen blocker in order to ensure that the cancer would not come back.
When mom and dad decided to get pregnant, mom had to go off of her estrogen blocker. Mom said, “I knew trying to become pregnant was risky because the cancer could come back. But we both knew we would regret it if we didn’t at least try.” In March of 2016, at the beginning of mom’s third trimester, doctors discovered that not only had the breast cancer returned, but it had also metastasized to mom’s liver. Thankfully, because mom was already in her third trimester, she was able to begin chemo treatments right away that would not harm Anela.
Due to the fact that mom’s bile ducts are covered by the tumor, she has a bilibag which collects the bile from her liver. In May of 2016, mom was due for a tube change. The doctor that did the procedure tried to put a larger tube in her liver. However, the procedure did not go smoothly and the doctor had to put a smaller tube in. Unfortunately, while trying to push the larger tube in, the doctor also caused bacteria to become loose in mom’s blood stream. This resulted in an infection. Mom began to shake uncontrollably which triggered the onset of her contractions. Local nurses administered medicine but could not put an end to the contractions. Finally, it was decided that mom and dad would ride by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in South Bend because Anela was only at 34 weeks and 5 days.
Within a half-an- hour of arriving at Memorial, mom received an epidural and Anela was born by C-section.
“It has been a very difficult few months, but this little girl was worth everything I’ve gone through,” mom said. She also said, “Dad did great! He was very supportive the whole time, even though I know he was freaking out on the inside.
Recently, mom and dad learned that the tumor in mom’s liver is not growing anymore The last step for mom is to get the cancer cells out of her body through either more chemotherapy, or drug treatment. Mom and dad have their baby girl and so much still to look forward to.
It is always an honor when Jeri Hoag Photography is chosen to photograph a newborn photography session. However, it is especially touching when Jeri is chosen to capture photos of miracle babies, the photos of children whose moms and dads have been through so much. A special thank you to Anela’s parents for choosing JHP for their newborn photography needs. Your story is truly an inspiration. We wish you the best of luck.
Jeri Hoag Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, birth, children and family photography in South Bend, Indiana and surrounding areas including but not limited to Granger and Elkhart.