Swing for Sophia

Today, Mark and I will be heading to Minneapolis to attend a benefit called Swing for Sophia.    You see, a year ago, we were lucky enough to have our family grow in leaps and bounds when Mark's brother married our sister in law, Alissa.  And it was in the expansion of our family that we came to know Sweet Baby Sophia, her mom Alli (Alissa's sister), her dad Dan, her big brother Jack, and her dog Rufus. 

When I first met Alli in Minneapolis last June during Alissa's bridal party weekend, Alli had just been told she was having a baby girl.  Unfortunately, the news at her 20 week visit also revealed that Baby Sophia had a complex heart defect, a condition known as Ventricular Inversion with a Hypoplastic (Underdeveloped) Right Ventricle along with Left Transposition of the Great Arteries and Complete Heart Block.  After learning of their baby's diagnosis, Alli and Dan began to share their journey to meeting their daughter through their blog The Lenmark Family. 

Born on July 21, 2009, Baby Sophia entered the world surrounded by the love and warmth of her family.  And while her heart tried, it simply was not strong enough to keep up with her beautiful and vibrant spirit.  The evening following her birth, Sophia passed away.

Photos courtesy of Emily Griffith (http://www.emily-griffith.com)

Although her time with us was too short, the impact that Sophia had in this world simply cannot be measured.  She taught us that life is to be treasured.  That no moment on this Earth should be spent in the absence of love.  And most importantly,  that "you cannot measure a life by the amount of breaths that you take, but by the amount of breathtaking moments that you share."  

Those were the words that the family's Pastor shared with the congregation in attendance at Sophia's memorial service a year ago.  What a truly beautiful and humbling message.  

After Sophia passed away, Alli and Dan spent time at Faith's Lodge, a retreat facility dedicated to helping families with seriously ill children cope and families who have experienced the passing of a child heal.  It was there that Alli and Dan were able to share their story and Sophia's story with other parents who had experienced similar loss.  And in that sharing, they found support and comfort and healing.

In celebration of Sophia's life, Alli and Dan, and their family, will be hosting Swing for Sophia, a benefit to support Faith's Lodge.  It is their kindness, generosity, hope, and faith, that truly takes my breath away.