This experience was so powerful that it took me days to figure out where to begin to describe it. I first met Raphael four years ago, shortly after meeting my husband, Sean, as he and Raphael were very good friends, spiritual explorers, and overall sun-beings. I know that’s already gone a little out-there for some, but there’s truly no other way to describe someone with as powerful a pull as Raphael.

I spoke to him briefly about shooting the birth of his daughter, but didn’t hear back from him until January 6 — the night before my own birthday. He told me he and his incredible wife, Shushannah, would be going into Crestwood Medical Center the next day, and that they would love to have me there. Since it was already pretty late in the evening, Ashley didn’t get a chance to join me, but I very happily set my alarm for super early and made it to their room at 9am the next day, roughly two hours after they did.

What followed could never really be adequately summed up; to say that it was one of the most soul-stirring experiences of my life barely does it justice. I witnessed true love, joy, and physical pain. I was humbled by Shushannah’s strength, by the demonstration of faith by Raphael, Shushannah, and their two older daughters, and the serenity that filled the room as this family of four filled the hours before meeting their fifth member with music, laughter, and even a viewing of the most recent version of Alice in Wonderland.

Dylan-Marie was born at 3:39pm, 7 lbs 8.8 ounces of perfection. She was ushered into a world of good, a world in which she is loved tremendously and will be taught how to love to that degree. I am forever grateful to my very dear, very inspiring friends for allowing me this opportunity, and think it’s only fitting that one of my favorite songs, (with a little bit of a tweak on the last line), sung by my very favorite band (and in particular, my absolute favorite musician), should accompany the photos of my brand-new birthday soul-sister.

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-Stephanie