Truett's Life

Our amazing little Truett lived a total of 85 hours and 3 minutes. We are so grateful for the time we got to share with him. We love and miss him so much! He was a special little boy that taught us so much. We will share more about our 3.5 days with him later. Thank you for your continued love and support for our family! #TeamTruett

Obituary for Baby Truett Michael Hatcher

Hatcher – Baby Truett Michael Hatcher, 3 days old, went to Heaven on April 10, 2015 while wrapped in his parent’s arms. He was born at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida on April 7, 2015 to his loving parents, Harry Milton and Kristen Ann Tew Hatcher, IV. Truett filled many hearts with happiness just to see his sweet face and smile. Truett was a true gift from God and it was a blessing to be able to spend time with him. His life impacted not just his family, but many people in the community. He will be deeply missed and always loved by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his paternal great grandparents, James Harrell, Colonel Harry and May Hatcher, Jr., B.F. Jackson, and Josephine Raines; and his maternal great grandparents; Homer Tew, and John and Anne Samons.

Truett is survived by his loving parents, Harry and Kristen Hatcher, IV of Starke, FL; his sister, Anniston Grace Hatcher; his paternal grandparents, Gloria Harrell, Harry and JoAnn Hatcher, III all of Starke, FL; his maternal grandparents, David and Donna Tew of Starke, FL; his paternal great grandmother, Betty Harrell of Moultrie, GA; his maternal great grandmother, Jessie Tew of Starke, FL; his uncles, Michael and Holly Tew, Chris and Lori Farmer; his aunt, Steve and Holly Vernon; his cousins, Sadie Tew, Ashton Wise, John David Vernon, Kaily Vernon, Chase Farmer and Stephen Vernon; and many extended family members and friends. 

Services will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 4:30 pm at First Baptist Church of Starke with Pastor Ken Weaver and Pastor Zeb Cook officiating. Interment will follow at Crosby Lake Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 from 3:30 – 4:30 pm at the church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Truett’s life to Duke University Medical Center, NTD Research Fund, 300 N. Duke Street, Box 104775, Durham, NC 27701 or online at www.giftrecords.duke.edu , click on “Make a Gift Now” then click Add an Unlisted Designation and type 3912359. Arrangements are under the care and direction of ARCHIE TANNER FUNERAL SERVICES, Starke, Fl. 904-964-5757. 

Truett's Birthday

We've made it to day seven. You guys have been so faithful, encouraging, gracious, generous, kind and supportive. We cannot thank you enough or express how grateful we are for you. Thank you for taking time to read our story, share our story and pray for our family. Truett has been such a little fighter. He hasn't given up. He's been inside Kristen's womb without a skull and brain and is pressing on. He hasn't given up and neither have we.

It has been an honor and joy to talk with so many people and receive phone calls and texts from so many friends. You guys are all rock stars! The last few days I've been telling people that I'm either completely out of touch with reality or God has genuinely given me a peace that has transcended my ability to understand. Don't get me wrong, I still wish this didn't happen. I wish I could be the one with the power to heal my son, but I'm not. I cried several times yesterday. By the way, how bout that Duke University!!! Kristen was asleep but I stayed up to watch the game and at the end I was on my knees in the living room crying like a little baby. I really believe Duke won that game for Truett. God allowed a basketball team to give hope to a heartbroken father.

We will be at the hospital around 8:00am and the c-section is scheduled to take place at 10:00am. We are looking forward to holding Truett in our arms for the very first time. Truett will be surrounded by so many people that love and care for him. It's going to be an exciting day tomorrow!

(I shifted gears a little between these two paragraphs, tears began to flow and I just kept writing)

I want to bring my son home. I want Anniston to be able to feed him a bottle. I want our son to live. I want Truett to give hope to people all across the world. I want him to beat the odds. I want to take him to a Duke basketball game. I want him to have birthday parties. I want him to take his first steps. I want to change his diapers. I want to get up in the middle of the night to feed him. I want to teach him about the history of the New York Yankees. I want him to be able to kiss his mother. I want a lot of things. I'm reminded of Jesus asking his Father if there was another way besides the cross. The cross was the plan. I'm not sure what the plan is for Truett. God will let us know that tomorrow.

Day 7: Today we pray for a miracle. I don't know if Truett will be born with a brain and skull. God can do it. I don't know if Truett will survive without a brain and skull. God knows. I don't know how long or how short Truett will live, but God knows. He has today's agenda in His planner. Our prayer today is for Truett to have a long and full life. Pray that he will not experience pain and suffering but that his entire life  he will only experience the love of his parents, family, friends and all of you that support Team Truett. We're also going to end this like we started it, by being thankful. I am thankful that God has led us every step of the way. I'm thankful that he has given Kristen and I a beautiful little boy that has taught us so much. I'm thankful that no matter what I've done or how unfaithful I've been, God is always good! He has been so good to us! Today we pray for a miracle. Today we are thankful!

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

We love all of you! See you guys soon!

One in a Million

I remember when Kristen was pregnant with Anniston. She started having contractions on a Thursday night around 8:00pm. We decided to go to the hospital around 5:00am on Friday. After a very long day it was finally time to meet Anniston. Right around midnight Kristen began pushing for Anniston to come out. This went on for two hours. Anniston's heart rate would drop really low and then it would spike. I'll never forget Dr. Million's words, "I'm anxious that something isn't right. I'd like to do a c-section." About 45 minutes later I was holding Anniston for the very first time.

I've often wondered if doctors get nervous or have fears. We expect them to know everything and have a plan to make all things better. We want them to be able to fix us and fix us right now. What happens when they encounter something they've never seen before? We look to them for the answers. We look to them to figure it out. 

Early on when we were deciding whether or not to continue the pregnancy or terminate we had concerns for the doctors and staff. Maybe, we just were concerned what they would think about us. If we decided to carry to term, how would this affect them? Will this be traumatic for them? Dr. Million told us that in almost 18 years of delivering babies she has never seen a baby with acrania/anencephaly. I'd probably freak out a bit if this happened to me. Tuesday is the big day. Truett will be born then. 

I wonder how the staff will sleep tonight? Is Dr. Million nervous? Is she afraid? I don't know the answers to any of these questions. I do know that God specifically chose Truett, Kristen, Dr. Million and myself to be on this journey together. 

Today, day 6, pray for Dr. Amy Million and Dr. Ann Hatfield. They will be performing the c-section. Pray for the nurses and other staff as well. Our prayer is that everyone in that operating room will experience the love of Jesus Christ and that He will provide care, comfort and compassion to the staff. Thank you for praying and standing with us!

Family First and Nicole

About a year or so ago I started a little saying with Kristen. It's really simple. One of us will say to the other, "family first" and then we fist pump each other. It's our way of reminding each other that we play on the same team and we do our best to look out for one another, to protect the family. If you know me at all, you know that I am a huge New York Yankees fan. My favorite player was Derek Jeter (number 2, Derek Je-tah, number 2; in my Bob Sheppard voice). I'll never forget watching games when Jeter had a clutch hit or made a great defensive play. Without fail, the camera would always find Charles and Dorothy Jeter. It seemed like they were always there cheering for their son. They were present. They were visible. They were supporting their son.

This past Valentine's Day Kristen got me a book, "Jeter Unfiltered." I started reading the book that night and came to a chapter entitled 'Family First.' This is what Derek Jeter said,

"It's simple: I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for my family. You have to have a good support group, regardless of your profession. If you have any level of success or any level of failure, you have to have a network of people to lean on and count on." 

What does family first mean? Read what Jeter said again. It means you've got each other's back. It means you stand when they can't. It means you love without condition. It means, family first.

Just yesterday Kristen was in a nail salon getting a pedicure. The nail tech asked her when the baby was due. Kristen told her Tuesday. There happened to be a lady sitting in the chair next to Kristen, she asked what the baby's name was. Kristen, of course, told her Truett. The lady reached her hand out to Kristen's hand and said, "we have been praying for your baby." She didn't even know Kristen's name (she asked for it later so they could pray for her by name as well). Please hear my heart and do not misunderstand me, we desperately need your prayers. But, Truett's life and story has not only impacted us, he has also impacted our family. Our parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are also affected.

Our family has been nothing short of amazing during this journey. We are still children to parents and our parents still have children. Anniston is not yet two years old so I have not seen her faced with difficult situations. I'm not sure how I'd respond only that if my child hurts, I hurt. I don't want us to forget about our family.

Today, day 5, I'm asking you to pray for our parents (David & Donna; Gloria; Harry & JoAnn) and the rest of our family. They have all helped us tremendously! We would not have made it this far without them.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4).

PLEASE CONTINUE READING BELOW...

Yesterday evening our community received some devastating news. Our friends Jordan and Nicole Callais were in the hospital awaiting the arrival of their little boy, Gadsden Nehemiah. Soon after his birth, Nicole experienced some very serious problems. Apparently, Nicole experienced an 'amniotic fluid embolism.' I don't want to speculate at other details as I do not know them with certainty. Please take time to pray for Nicole's healing and comfort her husband, Jordan; daughter, Chloe; and son, Gadsden Nehemiah. Everyone with Team Truett is praying for a miraculous and speedy recovery for you Nicole! Family First!!

Day Four - Mom & Dad

I can’t express enough how grateful I am for everyone praying for us. So many people have contacted us to let tell us that they have been praying for us. Many of you are sharing the blog or social media posts with your friends. We don’t want you to think we overlook that. Honestly, so many people are sharing and posting comments that we can’t keep up with them all (which is a good thing). Please know that we appreciate EVERY prayer and message sent. We’re right in the middle of the 7 days of prayer. Here’s a recap of where we’ve been: 

·      Day 1: Was a day of thanksgiving and praise

·      Day 2: We prayed for Duke University as they attempt to better understand anencephaly and other neural tube defects

·      Day 3: We remember and prayed for the countless families that have lost loved ones due to acrania, anencephaly or a similar diagnosis.

This past Tuesday night we had the opportunity to FaceTime with my cousin in Lynchburg, Virginia. He told us that their small group, from Brentwood Church, has been praying for us ever since they found out about Truett. It was a beautiful thing to see faces we’ve never seen before and listen to them pour out their heart in prayer on our behalf. Brett, a guy we’ve never met, prayed first. I’ll never forget one thing he said. He prayed, “God as much as Harry and Kristen love Truett, you love him more.” I immediately began crying when I heard that. It was a gentle and beautiful reminder for me that God is so much bigger than me. He really does love Truett more than I do. I love Truett and my heart breaks for him. God loves Truett more than me so His heart must break more than mine. It’s a reminder to me that I’m not in charge. I don’t have to carry the burden of heartache for Truett. That’s a huge relief for me. I find comfort knowing that God really does love Truett more than I do.

Today, day four, I’d like to ask that you pray for Kristen and myself. We are normal parents and normal people. We wake up to life just like you do everyday. God has already been faithful and true. We know He will continue that way. I can honestly tell you that I am so excited about seeing Truett. I can also tell you, in the very next breath, that I am nervous and anxious about Tuesday. Pray for Kristen and I to be of one heart and one spirit. God has been so good and faithful (even when we are not) to us. Pray that God will renew our strength over the next several days. Physically, we are both exhausted. Emotionally, we’re all over the place. We will definitely be relying on power of Jesus to get us through the next week. Thank you again for all you have done!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God” (Isaiah 43:2-3, ESV).

Incompatible With Life

Here we are at day three. Kristen and I have been blown away by the support we continue to receive. We cannot begin to express our sincere gratitude. With everything that is within us, we say thank you!

Have you ever experienced a day, week, month, or even a season where things didn’t turn out the way you had planned? Of course you have, so have we. It wasn’t in the plans (at least not ours) for Truett’s skull not to develop. We didn’t plan on having a baby born without the majority of his brain. Maybe you didn’t plan on getting cancer. Maybe it wasn’t in the plans for your spouse to pass away unexpectedly. Maybe you always dreamed of growing old with your husband and now you’re a single mom. I’m not sure what your story is or how life has treated you. There are things I don’t understand nor will I ever understand. But, this is what I know, “I say this because I know what I am planning for you, says the Lord. I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NCV). I may not know the plan(s) but the God that intricately formed Truett absolutely knows the plan(s).  He knows the plans for my life and he knows the plans for your life.

On September 25, 2014, Kristen and I became a part of a family we never knew existed. We joined other parents that our hurting, parents that were given a fatal diagnosis for their child. We’ve joined a couple of support groups on Facebook. To read some of the stories is absolutely heart wrenching. I remember reading the story of a mom that had 3 pregnancies with 3 babies suffering from anencephaly. I could not imagine going through that process 3 different times. Just tonight I read the story of a mom who gave birth to twin girls 11 years ago. Marley was born first and her sister, Grace, was only one minute behind. Two hours later Grace had breathed her last breath. The mom writes, “This year will be 11 years and their birthday is the best and worst day of my life... I have found a way to grieve and celebrate, early in the morning I leave on horseback I ride to a special spot and I grieve. Then I come home and celebrate no tears for Marley she deserves to have a happy day!” What a roller coaster of emotion for this mom to experience on their birthday.

Today, I want you to pray for all of these hurting moms and dads across the world that have received a diagnosis of acrania, anencephaly or any other diagnosis that is “incompatible with life.” Pray that these families will find hope and comfort during their darkest days. These families need all the love and support they can receive. Thank you for interceding on their behalf.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Duke University - Day 2

A lot of people have been asking us about Duke University. Well, Kristen and I have become huge fans of Duke and we hope you will too. Duke University is the only organization (that we know of) researching neural tube defects, such as acrania and anencephaly. The research dates back to the 90’s and focuses on the genetic factors associated with neural tube defects. You can find out more information about the study by clicking here. Kristen and I have agreed to participate in the program. Kristen and I both will donate blood as well as donate blood from Truett’s umbilical cord. We hope that by participating in this study Duke will be able to prevent and/or treat families facing similar diagnoses.

This is why I’ve become an outspoken Duke fan. I’ll never forget watching the Duke men’s basketball team on TV after we found out about this study. I cried like a baby watching the game. All I could think about was a university that cares about my son. I felt an immediate connection to the school. Please join us in praying for Duke University. Pray that the researchers will be able to learn more about acrania and anencephaly; what causes them and how to prevent them from occurring. One of the biggest drawbacks to the study is funding. Would you consider donating to the study? Pray for God to provide funding for research. Thank you for praying for Duke today!

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you” (James 1:5).

7 Days of Prayer for Team Truett

 Beginning today, I’m asking and inviting everyone to join with us in prayer for the next 7 days. These 7 days will take us to April 7^th, which is Truett’s scheduled arrival. As April 7^th approaches Kristen and I become very excited. In the very next breath we become very anxious and afraid. The purpose of these 7 days is to put all of our energy together. I’ve heard it said before that prayer is the hand that moves the hands of God. Let’s get this team fired up over the next week and watch the hands of God move over Truett, Kristen and I, and of course, you! Hold on cause it’s gonna get good!

People constantly ask us how they can pray for us. These next 7 days will have a specific request for each day. Be sure and check back daily for each request. Also, please feel free to share this with your people, your church, your friends and your social media. We want the world to know about Truett. When they hear his story, hopefully they will hear His story as well.

 We’ve been using the hashtag #TeamTruett on all our social media posts and have asked others to do the same. One of the definitions for the word team is a group of people working together. If you are reading this post, you are on the team. If you’ve sent us a text, you’re on the team. If you’ve prayed for us, you’re on the team. If you’ve offered or given anything for the benefit of us or Truett, you are on the team. We’ve got the best team in the world! Thank you for everything that has been done for us. Let’s do this!

You can pray at anytime that is convenient for you and your schedule. I do want to share a few dates and times that have been significant to us during this journey. If these times help you remember to stop what you are doing and pray then certainly use them.

• September 25, 2014 / 9:30am / This was the time of our first appointment with Dr. Million and when we were referred to Dr. Fareed.
• September 25, 2014 / 2:00pm / This was the time when we met with Dr. Fareed and were told of Truett’s diagnosis. 
• April 7, 2015 / 10:00am / This is the time of c-section for us to meet Truett.

Alright, here we go!

Day 1: Today is a day of thanksgiving. I want everyone to thank our Lord for the family He has given us. Thank him for Kristen being an amazing wife. She has shown me such strength and honor during this time. Thank Him for our precious little Anniston. She is a little piece of dynamite. Her mommy and daddy love her more than we are able to express. She has certainly been a source of comfort for us. Finally, thank Jesus for giving us the honor and privilege of calling Truett our son. Thank Him for making Truett just the way he is. He is perfect little boy who is fearfully and wonderfully made. Praise God for a beautiful little boy named Truett!

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, everyone of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-17)