This little guy and his parents were the winners of my Giving is Awesome contest I held back in December. Here is an excerpt from the nomination letter sent in:

“…Braylen was born on August 21, 2008 as a blessing to all of us. Braylen has had a tough start in life, but he is a natural-born fighter. His spirit is absolutely amazing! After being born at ECM, Braylen spent the next 28 days of his life in the NICU at Huntsville Hospital where he was diagnosed and treated for Hirschprung’s Disease, a birth defect which affects about 1 out of every 5000 children. The disease affects his intestines and he had to undergo surgery to repair the nerve cells in his large intestine. Once home, TJ and Jessica began dealing with both the joy and stress of caring for a newborn. However, Braylen’s disease made it difficult to conform to your typical newborn routine. Braylen’s digestive system was very sensitive and his body had endured so much that infection began to take over his body. Braylen has spent most of his time at home on antibiotics to replace good antibodies lost during his treatment in the NICU. While most babies with Hirschprung’s go on to lead normal lives, the doctor’s visits, medications, and treatments add to the pressures of making ends meet. Braylen’s condition has required Jessica to stay home while TJ works to provide for their family, making it necessary to live on a strict budget…”

As you can see from these pictures, Braylen is a happy, thriving 9 month old. And what a handsome boy he is. I had a great time with you guys, and it was a pleasure taking these pictures for you.