The Chrissie Dress - Skye Blue

"In 2020 we found out we were expecting a baby boy with Spina Bifida and with fluid on the brain.

He was one day old when he had his first major operation. With his second operation, at one week old, he received a drainage system in his brain which contracted a hospital infection and caused many complications for his brain. He was very ill and it is a great miracle that he survived that infection.

Today he is 5, he is paralysed in his lower body and has had a total of 10 operations, most of which were brain surgeries. Despite this, he is the happiest little boy and we have the privilege of witnessing and experiencing the wonders of the Lord in his life every day.

Over the past 5 years there have been many difficult and hard times. Things we struggle with. A breaking down of who we were and a laying down of the plans we may have had. Today there are still many things that are different (and difficult) about this path we are walking.

Praise the Lord that this is not the end of the story, because more than the difficulty, there is so much beauty and so much to be thankful for: For our little boy. For life. For new mercies every day. For an overflowing joy - regardless of circumstances. For the Lord’s presence on this journey, on the difficult and easy days. He was and is in it. For perspective. For eternal hope.

This brings meaning to the path we are walking and has taught us that it is not for nothing. It is only because of the hardship that we can truly enjoy and recognise the full extent of these joys and gifts from the Lord’s hand.

In my own life, this journey has surprised me with precious truths and gifts from the Lord:

I was 18 weeks pregnant when we heard that our unborn baby had Spina Bifida. With that diagnosis came many uncertainties. The doctors did not know whether Elian, our little boy, would be able to breathe on his own after birth. Nor what his brain function or physical abilities would be. They prepared us for the worst. We were repeatedly given the option to end his life, but we were already then (and still are) convinced that the Lord did not make a mistake. Elian was made with Spina Bifida for a reason. There is a purpose and his life has value. With this, a great truth opened up to me – our identity does not lie in anything we can or cannot do. In what we bring to the table or not. Not in achievements, talents or any human abilities. The fact that Elian is paralysed and that there were uncertainties about the rest of his abilities has no effect on his identity and value. It is found securely in the Lord and is something that He alone gives to us.

For the big, the small and everything in between. Nothing is taken for granted anymore and everything is simply seen as grace and gifts from the Lord’s hand. This gratitude gives way to an enduring joy that fixes our eyes on the Lord every day, because only He can give this kind of joy despite circumstances.

One of the greatest gifts that hardship brings is our hearts that no longer cling to this life, but long for heaven and eternal life with our Saviour and Lord. Where there will be no more sickness, pain, brokenness, disappointment or tears. We are reminded every day that our best life still lies ahead. This results in a life-giving hope that carries us especially through the difficult days.

It has also taught us to live with urgency. An urgency to be ready for the day when our time on earth is over and reminds us daily to run our earthly race and do everything we do to the glory of the Lord.

The Chrissie dress has a lovely waist tie to accentuate the women's smallest part - her beautiful waistline. It celebrates femininity, the strength and gift it brings to a household and the continual trusting of God's ways. It has top functional buttons (great fore breastfeeding moms) and it is made from a crease-free Airflow Fabric.