About two months ago I started following a blog about the Sullivan Family . Nine months ago Sara was diagnosed with breast cancer, at only 28 it was hard news for she and her husband Brad to take, but they chose to follow their faith through Sara’s diagnosis and treatment. They were pregnant, with what they would soon learn was a sweet baby girl…there were important choices to be made about Sara’s treatment during the pregnancy. Again trusting in the Lord they continued treatment and close monitoring of their sweet daughter. For the last three week’s of Sara’s pregnancy she was on bed rest, but it didn’t deter her or her husband Brad’s faith. Their baby girl, Chloe Grace entered the world six weeks early…spent a week in the NICU and then was released so her mother and father could take her home. Sara was able to spend two amazing days at home will Chloe. Brad will tell you it was the happiest he had ever seen his wife. On September 17th Sara began having seizures, which in the hospital were diagnosed as post-partum angiopathy. Four days later, Sara was pronounced brain dead, just a few days shy of her 29th birthday.
Brad and Chloe are adjusting to life as a family of two. She is certainly keeping him on his toes, and she is also an amazing source of strength for him during this time of grief. What amazes me most about this family, is their testament to their faith. Never once during Sara’s 9 month battle did it waver, they were tested when Chloe had to spend time in the NICU, and yet it held strong…and even now as each day passes since Sara went to be with the Lord, Brad’s faith remains steadfast. God has brought a lot of rain into their home in the last 9 months, but circumstances can’t possibly change who they are in Him. What an inspiring and humbling testament of faith.
Brad and Chloe made the trip to Dallas this week, as they will be running in the Race for a Cure in honor of Sara on Saturday, and I had the amazing pleasure of spending the day with them. Capturing sweet 6 pound Chloe, who shares her mother’s eyes, and Brad together. A complete honor. I look forward to capturing Chloe throughout her first year, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives.
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Melissa, what an amazing story and beautiful pictures!
Wow. I’m so glad that she was able to spend some time with her baby girl before leaving this world. My family lost a cousin to breast cancer over the weekend, so this hits close to home. These are so gorgeous. They will be treasured forever.
OMG, I am in tears…what a joruney…and what amazing faith they have. What a gorgous baby, I am sure her Daddy see’s her Mommy in her more and more each day. You are the perfect person to capture this love & bond this father and daughter will always share. Beautiful work Melissa, as always!
Such an amazing story. You did such a beautiful job capturing them.
Wow Melissa…I am speechless here. Words cannot adequately describe how I feel right now….sad, happy, loved, & blessed. We all know God has a plan for our lives and we can all hope that we are doing everything we can in his honor. May God bless the Sullivan family and may he bring an abundance of peace & love to Brad & Chloe.
So incredibly beautiful… my heart goes out to this strong family.
God bless them! What an amazing story and a testament to their faith. God rest her beloved mother. I am in tears. These pictures are so precious! What a sweet, sweet baby girl. I adore them all and of course, love the last one with her dad. I’m always a sucker for baby girls with their dads.
Wow – what a beautiful story! I’m so sorry it didn’t have a happier ending, but wish Brad and Chloe years and years of happiness in the future. That last picture is just breathtaking!
What an amazing testament to their faith. God never promised it would be easy but he promised to be with us every step of the way!
That first photo had me burst out in tears, what a sweet sweet baby girl and the last one too so precious and heart wrenching all at once!
Melissa as always beautiful work!
beautiful images…
many prayers and blessings to the family.
Oh what a miracle in the breadth of tragedy. Chloe is Beautiful and you captured her so well. Amazing gallery of images! I’ll say a little prayer for Brad and Chloe while their wife and mommy watches over them from heaven.
Melissa, your images especially backed with Chloe and Brad’s story evoke so much emotion. It feels like Sara is there with them, basking in the beauty of the precious girl she and Brad created! May God take wonderful care of this family!
oh gosh, what an amazing and totally touching story. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Chloe is so beautiful and I wish her and her daddy a lifetime of happiness.
Melissa, what an amazing story and opportunity for you to capture this precious baby and dad. Incredible faith!
Just lovely
These are stunning, more so with the story behind them. I pray for all the best for this family.
Hey Melissa!
I read their story on their blog a few weeks ago and cried. What a strong family. Sara was so beautiful. You have taken the most perfect, beautiful pictures of a perfect, beautiful baby. Brad, Chloe and Sara will always be in my prayers.
You have such a way of touching peoples’ lives. I will keep baby Chloe and Brad in my prayers and my thoughts. I know that life gives us unexpected turns and we must rely on Him and the support from our friends, and prayer warriors to get through. Keep doing what you are doing, you are truly an angel and I feel blessed to call you my friend. P.S. I love the pics!!!
Wow, my heart and prayers go out to this family. You have captured some beautiful photographs that they will treasure always!!
amazing melissa! Your amazing. god bless!
#1 is perfect!!
as i sit here and cry over this i realized sara, brad and baby chloe do not need tears bc they are truly a family of hope, and strength….God Bless Brad and Chloe in their journey together thru life, sara will surely be with them every step of the way
These photos are absolutely phenomenal… You captured Chloe’s beauty and her father’s sweet relationship with her pefectly. I can’t wait to see how you capture the rest of her first year. Blessings.
What a heart wrenching story. You captured the whole thing beautifully. May God’s gentle hands be laid upon this family…
so heartwrenching. so beautiful too. may God continue to give them strength.
Wow Melissa. What a heartfelt story. So so sad yet so inspirational. Amazing captures of their little girl.
Beautiful, beautiful pictures! What a precious gift you are giving to Brady!
Oh my! God bless them! (beautiful photos)
I think of you daily your story i will always remeber god bless he has already
Oh yea the pictures are great and a star is born I know chloe’s grandmother been reading brads blog from the start What a strong perason he is I met him at the funeral He will be a great father
Beautiful pictures of a beautiful family. Sending some strength to Brad and Chloe xoxo
Melissa,I already knew God had a plan for your photography career before you even knew it. Just think how He’s allowed you to be His Hands and His Eyes to minister to sweet families such as Brad and Chloe. Continue to let Him lead you on,girl! My friend who died of breast cancer, too, left a 4 year old who is now a beautiful twelve year old being raised by her loving daddy.Brad will find the love and strength he needs to help Chloe grow into a beautiful woman like Sara!
These are beautiful! What an amazing family. My thoughts are with Brad, Chloe and their family through this time.
I saw your blog post and have spent the last two hours reading the blog of this incredible family. Amazing. Heartwrenching. I will be checking in to see how they are doing. My thoughts and prayers are with their entire family. Beatufil images Melissa!
XO Michelle
Heartbreaking story, but thank you so much for sharing it along with the beautiful photos you captured.
Absolutely beautiful.
I am in tears. Thanks for sharing this story. You did a beautiful job with this session Melissa. I adore the last shot with her daddy. I’m sure these images will be treasured by the entire family. My prayers and thoughts are with them. God bless.
I am new to your blog, and did not know about the Sullivan family. I am so sorry for this little gal and her pop. Please extend my heartfelt sympathy to them. The images you captured for them are stunning.
Beautiful. Just beautiful, Melissa. These are some of the most beautiful and emotional pictures I have ever seen. This precious family is in our prayers.
Melissa – FYI – Sarah was 28 – about to turn 29
Thanks Bryan!
What a touching story and beautiful images! Prayers for dad.
Melissa,
What an incredible honor! I too follow this blog, and am amazed by their everlasting faith! I admire them so much! Great job capturing Chloe and her sweet {perfectness}! Many prayers and blessings!
Thanks for the adorable pictures of Chloe. I know how much our sweet Sara would love these as do the family. Please keep them in your prayers. Also, Sara was 28, almost 29.
Wow, my prayers are with the family…We lost my mom to breast cancer @ 46, I thought that was awful. What a beautiful baby…
There really are no words – what a heartbreaking story. I admire this daddy’s strength in the face of adversity and will keep this family in my prayers. As for the images – they are warm and beautiful and I look forward to seeing more of Chloe as she grows up.
I started following this blog to, just days before Sara passed away. I L O V E these pictures..they are just incredible! Can’t wait to see the rest!
My word, what a heart-wrenching story
The photos are truly beautiful, LOVE the last one
I’ve been following their blog, and you captured them so beautifully! My prayers are with the family.
Wow! Your pictures of this beautiful family are just perfect. Wow!
These are amazing pictures. I knew Sarah since she was a little girl and know how proud she would have been of these picture.
What a heart breaking story:( Your images are stunning!