Ally Ray

     It was a moment in our lives that we never knew would happen and could not imagine it in our wildest dreams.  As we sat in that small room with a High Risk OBGYN performing an ultra-sound on our sweet, 20 week old, baby girl, we knew that we were in a facility where we never wanted to be.  For a week, we had been praying that what our regular doctor saw.... was a mistake.  Unfortunately, we were informed that our Ally Ray had Myelomeningocle (Spina Bifida) and Arnold Chiara Malforamtion.  It was words that make your heart beat faster and up into your throat, words that make you feel nauseated, and words that make your head slowly tilt to the ground and tears to fill your eyes and run down your cheeks. 

     We had heard of these diagnoses before, but didn't have the slightest knowledge of what it meant.  To be honest, it didn't really matter what the doctor said after this, because shock and numbness had entered our bodies.  All we could think about was what Ally's life would be like.  Would she be able to crawl, walk, or feel her legs.  Would she be able to run through the grass on a summer's day, or jump into the leaves as they fall from the trees in the fall.  Our hearts were broken and we wanted to fix the unfixable. 

     After a few days, and minus the outlook on the impact of all our lives, we were comforted by the knowledge that this was our Heavenly Father's plan.  We were chosen to parent this special gift and special spirit.  We were the lucky ones to be able to share our lives with this beautiful girl.  We have an enormous support group that ranges from family and friends, to people that we have never met that are parents to Spina Bifida children whose words of optimism and comfort have brought our souls peace. 

     This is not a time to mourn the unfortunate, but a time to celebrate the fact that Ally Ray has been sent to not only us, but all of you who she will come in contact with.  She will teach us all and bless our lives for have known her. 

    There are still so many unknowns in regards to Ally.  What is known is that we have chosen to continue this pregnancy throughout.  We still have so many questions in regards to this illness and what is to come in our future.  We encourage everyone who has questions, to just ask.  This is not a topic that we are scared of and do not want to discuss.  We have embraced the fact that this is our lives... now and forever.

     We are so grateful for our wonderful families who have given us so much support and love.  We love you and are eternally grateful for you in our lives. 

     -- "For our light and momentary struggles are preparing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." -- 2 Corinthians 4:17