Meet The Hissam Family!

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of working with the Hissam Family. They are the 2015 Spotlight Family for the March of Dimes Space Coast Division. So I met up with them to get to know them, their story and to get some family photos for upcoming events. Today I want to share their story with you.

Meet Aran and Patrick. They met in high school, went off to FSU together and eventually landed here in Melbourne. High School Sweethearts. They began to have a family and had two healthy boys, Braden and Ryan. These two boys are filled with so much life and energy. I loved getting to meet them too.

Then in 2011, they found out they were expecting again. This time with a girl, they would name Brianna Marie. Unfortunately early in the pregnancy they learned of some complications within the pregnancy-non immune fetal hydrops; and how Brianna Marie wasn't developing in certain areas. After searching for answers, which they found very little, Aran underwent a few surgeries. At just about 7 months, Brianna Marie was welcomed into the world for 15 amazing hours. 15 hours that changed the Hissam's world. 15 hrs on earth that will impact this world for a long time.

Sadly Brianna Marie didn't make it due to her complications and God took her home. It was from this powerful journey the Aran and Patrick followed their hearts and began a foundation in their daughter's name....The Brianna Marie Foundation. Please take a moment to read their full story and learn about the complications experienced. You never know who God will place in your life that will benefit from this knowledge.

Today Aran is the President of the Brianna Marie Foundation and is focused to raise awareness of this disease. She carries on the love for her daughter by making this awareness known so that someone else may deliver their baby safely. There is little research at this time and with the funds from the Brianna Marie Foundation, Aran and Patrick hope to change that. If you wish to be involved with the Brianna Marie Foundation you can visit their site here. You can also participate in the Annual Brianna Marie 5k March 14 at Wickham Park.

As mentioned earlier, Aran and Patrick are also the spotlight family for the March of Dimes and you can participate in the annual March for Babies on April 25th. by registering here. Life begins at conception and these two organizations want to preserve life and see healthy babies. I hope you will consider one of these great organizations.

Thank you Aran and Patrick for sharing your story. Thank you for keeping Brianna Marie's legacy alive for all of us to learn from. I look forward to seeing great things come from this wonderful foundation.