Imagine telling your baby goodbye after knowing him for only 10 days. When Josh and Robbyn Blick welcomed baby Zion into the world, they knew he would have only a few short days to live. Zion was born with Trisomy 18, or Edwards syndrome, a genetic condition. He weighed only 4 pounds, 7 ounces. The Blicks chose to make the best out of a desperately sad situation. They documented baby Zion's 10-day life through photos and a video to share their love and joy with the world.
Josh Blick, a Christian pastor, says in the video:
I want you to know that you didn't have to be big and tall or even loud for us to notice you. You didn't have to stand in front of a pulpit or write a book to capture our attention. You just did. In fact, you did more in your 10 days on earth than I could ever hope to. This is the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. But I want you to know that I'm so proud of you.
Josh and Robbyn learned their son had Trisomy 18 when Robbyn was 20 weeks into her pregnancy. They chose to continue with the pregnancy. The early notice gave them time to absorb the sad news and prepare themselves for the inevitable. They had time to think about what life means and how they would say goodbye.
I think the reason why this story is touching people is because it's larger than just the story of one couple and one baby. It's about how you can love someone you've only known for a short time. It's also about turning a tragedy around into a celebration of something beautiful, a human life, even one that lasted only a few short days.
The video is over six minutes long, FYI.
Zion Isaiah Blick from Alpine Chapel on Vimeo.
Do you think you could love a baby who lived only 10 days as much as you love a child who lives to adulthood? How would you say goodbye if you knew your baby would only live a few days?
Image via Alpine Chapel/Vimeo