Samuel’s Funeral and Photography

It’s been almost a week since our son Samuel’s funeral. There isn’t a day that goes by that we are not re-living his memories when he was in my tummy or during the time we had with him in the hospital. We miss him so much and our hearts still break each day that he is not home with us. We know time will help and that it will get easier from the heartache perspective but we’ll be forever changed. Little Samuel has enriched our lives so much, more than we could have imagined. We are comforted knowing that Samuel is now strong and flourishing with Jesus and living in his heavenly body free from Trisomy 13 complications.

Samuel’s funeral was held on Friday, January 29, the same day we were intending to induce my labor. The services were so beautiful and intimate consisting of our immediate and some extended family. Our pastor at Seacoast Community Church, Rick Myatt, conducted Samuel’s eulogy. Rick’s words that day were so warm & comforting and greatly helped us with closure. After the services, Samuel was laid to rest in an infant cemetery located in Sorrento Valley, CA.





















































We picked up our pictures this week from our 'Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep' photographer. Our photographer, Joseph Farmer, was incredible. Joseph remained on call for our family that entire week. Once he got the call Samuel was born, he arrived at the hospital within a half hour. His timing was perfect since it aligned so well when our family (including Luke) came to meet us at the hospital. Joseph captured precious moments of Samuel alone, with mommy and daddy and some shots with the rest of our family. In the images, you will notice Samuel’s bilateral cleft lip and palate. His palate and upper lip never had a chance to completely form. As a result, the cartilage between his little nostrils and part of his palate couldn’t attach to anything and were on the outside of his mouth. Other abnormalities seen on our baby boy and were also consistent with what we saw in prior ultrasounds were: meningomyelocele (neural tube defect at the sacrum), omphalocele (herniation of some of his intestines through the umbilical cord), polydactyly (extra pinky on both hands and feet). But even with all of these Trisomy 13 defects, Samuel was so beautiful. We loved seeing and holding our little boy. We were also able to see so many features resembling his older brother, when Luke was just a newborn himself. These similarities include his wavy hair (and lots of it!), the shape of his nose and eyes and little cleft chin. We are proud to share some of these sweet images of our time with him at the hospital.


























































Additionally, here are some photos taken with our own camera.



























































Saying good-bye to Samuel