Christmas is more than a date on the calendar. It’s more than ugly sweaters and classic movies. It’s more than beautiful carols sung by a children’s choir, warm cookies and cold eggnog or even neatly wrapped gifts lying under a tree.
For many, Christmas is hope. For Cleveland’s very own Baird family, holiday hope came early this year.
Earlier in 2018, Adam and Jessie Baird welcomed baby Ivey into the world. She was their fourth child, and represented a much anticipated growth for the Bairds, both in number and in joy.
However; when she was born, the Bairds received some unexpected news - their daughter had been diagnosed Down Syndrome, and her doctors also discovered a congenital heart defect, better known as AVSD.
AVSD, or an atrioventricular heart defect, is a heart defect that causes holes between the chambers of the heart, preventing the valves from properly forming. AVSD is a serious heart condition, and Ivey has already had two intensive surgeries to combat the effects, one to place a feeding tube into her stomach, and the other to place a colostomy bag because she has Hirschsprung's Disease.
Even with this difficulty, Jessie remains adamant that “having Ivey was the best thing she’s ever done.”
With Ivey’s next surgery scheduled for early February, the doctors called Adam and Jessie to tell them the bad news - Ivey would need to stay home and skip the family’s annual trip to meet Santa Claus. With seasonal illness in the air and a high concentration of children out and about, the risk of infection was simply too high.
“We were both sad because the family tradition is to take the kids to see Santa, and we always look forward to their first Christmas picture,” said the Bairds.
Dismayed by the news, the family settled into the fact that this year would be the first without a photo with Santa. No annual family photo, no first Christmas picture and the very first breaking of this family tradition.
That’s when a local good Samaritan came to the rescue.
She made a call to a local friend, a gentleman who plays Santa Claus this time of year, and explained the situation. Without hesitation, he made plans to visit the Bairds and bring a little Christmas magic to a family who deserved it.
A time and date was scheduled, the reindeer were assembled and off Santa went to the Baird home, determined to spread the hope and goodwill that are so beloved this time of year.
The entire Baird family was delighted, and Adam said, “We were shocked that we were going to have a Santa come to our house.”
“It was different than just going to see Santa at the mall, it was more special watching the kids get to interact with him and not be rushed,” added Jessie.
Photographer Tammy Rockwell met the family and their jolly visitor at their home, and made sure that the family tradition was upheld - family photos with Santa Claus and Ivey’s first Christmas pictures were a success.
“I have photographed this family for eight years, but the most memorable shoot with them thus far was this magical afternoon with Santa,” said Ms. Rockwell.
For the Bairds, this afternoon with Santa was about so much more than pictures. For them, it was about hope, a hope that will last long after Christmas fades and the magic wears off.
“There is a lot of fear of the unknown, but we are so blessed that God has trusted us with Ivey and we love the joy that she has brought to our family,” said Adam.
May the Bairds joy spread to each and every one of us this holiday season.