Miracle of baby Kyrsten’s Birth

Revisiting Kyrsten’s Birth Story (13 Years Later)

Thirteen years ago I packed my camera bag and prepared myself for one of the hardest photo sessions of my life.

I had been asked to photograph the birth of a baby whose life might only last a few moments. This baby girl had been diagnosed with anencephaly, a rare condition where a baby develops without a large portion of the brain, skull, and scalp during early pregnancy. Because of this diagnosis, many babies are stillborn or only live for a very short time after birth.

The photos I was about to take could become the first and last images her family would ever have of their daughter.

Her name was Kyrsten.

Before the birth, I met Kyrsten’s mom, Breanna, during a consultation. From the moment we met, I could see the strength and love this family carried with them. Even in the middle of such a heartbreaking diagnosis, their focus was simple. They wanted to meet their daughter and cherish whatever time they were given with her.

I remember preparing myself emotionally for that day, knowing there was a very real possibility I could be walking into a stillbirth. When the day finally came, I arrived at the hospital ready to document whatever moments this family might have with their baby girl.

And then something unexpected happened.

Kyrsten was born alive.

Because Breanna delivered by C-section, much of the family waited in the waiting room while those first moments unfolded. Everyone knew the diagnosis. Everyone understood that time with Kyrsten might be incredibly short. Still, they waited with hope, love, and an incredible amount of faith.

When mom was moved into recovery the room slowly filled with family. One by one they came in, surrounding Breanna with quiet support and love.

As I stood there photographing those moments, I could feel something powerful in that room. There was grief, of course. There was uncertainty. But even stronger than that was love.

Breanna held Kyrsten so gently, soaking in every second she had with her daughter. The family gathered close, offering support, prayers, and quiet tears. No one knew how long those moments would last, but everyone understood how precious they were.

It was one of the most humbling things I have ever witnessed through my camera.

When I eventually left the hospital that day, she was still alive. The conversations around us were cautious and uncertain. At first we were told it might only be hours.

Then hours passed.
Then we heard it could be days.
Days slowly turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months.
And somehow, months turned into years.

Today, 13 years later, Kyrsten is still here.

What started as a birth story I thought I was simply documenting as a photographer slowly became something much more personal. Over time I grew close with Breanna and her family, and Kyrsten became part of my life in a way I never could have imagined when I first walked into that hospital room with my camera.

Looking back now, these photos represent so much more than a birth. They capture love, faith, uncertainty, and the powerful reminder that life does not always follow the expectations placed on it.

Sometimes the moments we think will end in heartbreak become the moments that change our lives the most.

And 13 years later, Kyrsten’s story is still being written.