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Last year, Heartworks contacted The Children's Hospital
in Denver to provide photography services. We were immediately
put in contact with Vicki Shaw at their child care clinic,
KidStreet. KidStreet is one of the many unique venues
where Heartworks provides free portrait photography
for children who have life-threatening and life-challenging
illnesses. The following story is about our friend,
Gabriel, and his amazing courage and determination.
 Gabriel
Reece Heany entered the world on February 27, 2001 in
Denver, Colorado with a sweet-temper, a fighting spirit
and a sense of destiny! As a result of complications
during his traumatic birth, Gabriel suffered asphyxia
and cardiac arrest. The first three months of Gabriel's
life were very difficult. During that time, he suffered
brain swelling, was unable to suck, received nutrition
through a nasal gastro tube, and had such severe acid
reflux that he often lost most of what went in. He had
a blood clot in his brain and received shots to dissolve
it.
After three excruciating months, Gabriel had surgery to place a g-tube directly into his stomach and the Nissan procedure (stomach wrap) to prevent reflux. After his recovery, Gabriel's sweet personality emerged! Up until that time his life consisted of chronic pain, crying, and an inability to be comforted in any conventional way. When Gabriel was 9 months old, his family had come to terms with his delayed physical development. Gabriel's brain damage affected his physical development. The older he got, the more behind his development appeared to be. In November, a medical/rehab team from Children's Hospital in Denver assessed him and determined a diagnosis fitted to the symptoms: cerebral palsy.
Gabriel's
parents decided that his best chance to gain developmental
ground was to enroll him at KidStreet in Denver. KidStreet
is a wonderful specialty clinic where nursing and therapy
staff are on hand to focus on the rehabilitation of
children and infants. In 2002, Gabriel joined 20 other
children who attend 5 days a week, from 9am to 5pm.
Presently, Gabriel continues to attend KidStreet which is where we met him in June 2003. He works very hard at his therapies, and his progress has enabled him to do many things with the help of various adaptive devices. He scoots, rolls, and eagerly explores his world like any boy his age. His little heart beats very fast as it works to keep up with his boundless energy and curiosity. He never seems to tire of the intense physical labor involved in performing daily activities that we (without limitation) so often take for granted. Although he loves to taste different foods, he is still receiving his nutrition through a g-tube. His oral motor skills are slowly improving.
 No
one knows Gabriel's long term prognosis. His family
is thankful for every smile and laugh they share with
him. They praise God for giving them such a wonderful
son. Genette and I are excited to visit KidStreet again
in June where we can once again photograph Gabriel as
we help his family chronicle his tremendous progress.
A note from Gabriel's parents...
"As parents to four children,
one having special needs, we are always financially
challenged. Our 3 year old Gabriel has cerebral palsy
and much of our family's time is centered on him and
his needs. When Heartworks Photography came to the rehab
clinic, we were so delighted! For several years, we
had desired to have a professional portrait of Gabriel.
When we saw the first portrait Heartworks did of Gabriel,
we actually cried. It was so beautiful. It captured
the innocent, playful and triumphant qualities of our
dear son's personality. He looked just like any other
child his age! Gabriel loved it too! We used that picture
in our yearly update letter about Gabriel to over 200
friends and family. The portrait was done at no cost
to us, and we were allowed to reproduce additional copies
as we wanted. What a blessing! We want everyone at Heartworks
to know how deeply we appreciate your compassionate,
excellent gifts to us and others like us. In a world
that frequently falls prey to the power and pursuit
of money, it is refreshing and surprising to find Heartworks
Photography. Each and every one of you are truly a blessing
as you provide a ministry to a population of needy people,
like Gabriel, so deserving of such kindness.
From
the world's perspective, Gabriel's prognosis is poor.
People diagnosed with cerebral palsy are not known to
recover full function, although early rehabilitative
intervention can facilitate some progress. However,
in the Kingdom of God we have every reason to hope.
In the book of Hebrews, chapter eleven and verse one,
we read, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped
for; the evidence of things not seen." Isaiah 53 shows
us it is God's will to be whole in spirit, soul and
body. This is possible through the sacrifice of Jesus.
We, the Heany family, choose to put our confidence in
God's Word. We share His prognosis for Gabriel - wholeness
restored. As we wait for this promise to be fulfilled,
we rejoice in all that God is doing through this experience
to conform us to His image."
- Bruce
& BrookLyn Heany
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