Hayden Jade Shenk

Hayden Jade Shenk, was born September 8th 2008. We found out she would be an extra special little babe while Dr. Rogers was searching around her ultrasound.. She would be born with Cleft-Lip and Palate...  Little did we know- the first year of her life would be the most hectic of ours! BUT.. I'm so thankful she wasn't born "normal" because my lover and I were gently forced into working together, which helped us become even more close and even more in love. 
     We live in Oregon, Portland has a facility called OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University)..  They do wonderful things for children with many aspects of need. One month after Hayden was born she was fitted with a nose stent and palate retainer.. The Specialist for Cleft-lip had just moved from New York to Portland and was introducing this new cutting edge product for the first time September 2008!! Amazing God's time-line for His children!! For the first five months of Hayden's life every two weeks we would drive from Florence Oregon (a boring coastal town, south) to Portland, so the Specialist could tighten Hayden's mouth piece... EVERY TWO WEEKS! At our six month mark.. she was scheduled to have her fist surgery.. "repair her lips" For four hours  ..  Grandma Pratt, Aunt Katie, Daddy and I sat and waited for her to come out of surgery.. Grandpa and Grandma Shenk was also there to support her little grand-baby!! 


    After she was rolled out and placed into her room, we finally got to see Hayden for the first time with a normal upper lip!! She was   BEAUTIFUL!!   


Her favorite thing waking up from surgery .. a very big transparent pink butterfly balloon!    
        My favorite thing... Her smile!! :  )

     At one year old, Hayden was scheduled for her palate surgery!! The day before this surgery, Uncle Don reserved us an extravagant hotel room AND Hayden got to visit the Portland Zoo!! There wasn't much of a facial feature change seeing as the palate is the roof of your mouth.. BUT.. We were able to switch from a special bottle AND introduce her to solid foods!! That was an awesome mile stone for our family!! : ) 
 ((Mommy and Daddy grew together and even more in love))

                                      . . . . <3 . . . .


  4 years and 15 days later... Hayden Jade Shenk loves to draw and color, play dress up, dance and watch Olivia on nickjr .. She also loves writing and numbers. She's very interested in the earth, space and L O V E S ... Jesus. She is a kind soul ... I can't believe the Lord wanted us to be her earthly guardians .. How amazing love can be!! She needed us and we most certainly need her. 


I love you Hayden Jade Shenk..
                                                 you are my Northern star.