Alan Dickson Photography

Posted in WHAT'S NEW? by Heather Dickson on 11/13/2009 2:00:54 PM

It's said that a picture paints a thousand words. These stunning photos of Baby Hope can't even begin to paint her story, so we'll let her mom tell you, in her own words:

"My husband Mike and I had tried for a baby since our wedding night. After a year and half, we were ecstatic to find out we were finally expecting our first child. The pregnancy was going well until April 15th when I went into labour. I was only 27 weeks pregnant and was flown to London Ontario where they could better deal with a premature baby. I got to London on time where my father and sister-in-law were waiting for me. Allt he doctors told me it was going to be alright before I went in for an emergency C-section. Unknown to me, the doctor had gone to my father and told him to expect the worst. Our baby was born 2 lbs 8 oz and 13 weeks early. She was not breathing and needed to be resuscitated. It was not looking good. They wouldn't let me see her. Mike and I decided to name her Hope. It seemed fitting and at that point, hope was all we had for our baby. The next few days  are foggy. The first time I saw my little girl I felt joy she was alive, but sadness overwhelmed me. She was so little and even got smaller. She reached 1 lb 9 oz before she started gaining weight again. She was just skin and bones, hooked up to a ventilator to help her breathe. Tubes and IVs coming out of her little body. Her skin was translucent and she looked so weak. I stayed in St. Joseph's with her for 5 days. I spent as much time as I could in the NICU with her. Praying to a God I had never talked to before. Hope would need to be in the care of doctors and nurses for the next 2 months. Throughout the time, Hope had many hurdles to overcome. It was one thing after another. Reflux, a heart murmur, infections, the list went on and on. There were doctors who told us that Hope would not walk, would be deaf or even blind. My heart broke with every word of bad news. Hope had to go through many tests, be on many drugs and watched constantly. Slowly but surely, things started to look up. Her heart murmur was no more, she could breathe on her own and stopped having spells that would bring all of her vitals down. Finally the news came that there was no brain damage seen on her MRI. Hope was starting to be true to her name! After 2 long months, we came home to the Thunder Bay NICI. Hope continued to thrive and I brought her home on June 17 2009 at 4 lbs 5 oz. The days at the NICU seemed so long ago now. I think back to that time like it was a bad nightmare, it just doesn't seem real. You never know how strong you are until something terrible like this happens to your family. Hope is doing great! She is 7 months now and meeting all of her milestones. We don't hear bad news anymore and the doctors seem to think she is going to be a happy healthy baby. I think you can see that in all of the great photographs that Alan took. He really captured the miracle that is our Baby Hope!" Kelly Elliot














Thanks Kelly for allowing us to share in your miracle. Hope is truly a picture perfect little girl and we were blessed by being able to capture some of the dreams you have for her on 'film'. We almost lost our youngest daughter twice and know the feeling of utter helplessness yet quiet strength. You and Mike will never be the same - Hope has changed your lives forever in the most powerful of ways. What a great gift from God and what a perfect little miracle!



December 2, 2009

Here's a shot of Hope that Kelly had sent in an earlier email. Look at the difference from then until now - She must have the most amazing will to live, and parents who never gave up on her! She's going to be an amazing woman when she grows up!