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Moore

The Story of

THE STORY OF MOORE

Welcome to The Story of Moore... Where we micro-blog our son Nolan's Medical journey while bringing awareness to Congenital Heart Disease, Microtia, & Scoliosis.

Thank you for being part of our story.

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”- Maya Angelou

Happy Birthday, Joel! You are easy to love, the best friend someone can have, and make even the dullest moments fun. Thank you for being you. I hope you felt celebrated all day today! ♥️

Happy Birthday, Joel! You are easy to love, the best friend someone can have, and make even the dullest moments fun. Thank you for being you. I hope you felt celebrated all day today! ♥️

Happy 7th Heart Anniversary to our warrior! ⁣
⁣
Seven years ago today, we handed our 6-month-old to a group of strangers & stood alone in a pre-surgery room of CHOA. We stood silent, almost frozen, crying, & gasping for a breath that would snap us out of the reality we were currently facing. ⁣
⁣
The day we had anticipated was here. Nolan’s heart needed to be repaired. It would require open-heart surgery, a 6-hour operation, & months of recovery. ⁣
⁣
An hour into surgery, we got a call from the OR, “Nolan is successfully on heart & lung bypass.” The translation, “Your child’s life is currently depending on equipment.” Six hours later, we got the call that his heart was beating again. ⁣
⁣⁣
The days & weeks post-surgery are a blur. We thought surgery was the finish line, but it was really a start. A start of heart failure appointments, a start of heart-failure medications, the start of scoliosis, the start of recovery, the start of so many things that we didn’t expect. ⁣
⁣
But it was also the start of hope.

The start of healing.

The start of learning what truly matters.

The start of extreme gratitude.

And in many ways, the start of Nolan’s life.

⁣Thinking back on this day, I can’t believe that seven years have come & gone.

We have seen Nolan fight harder than anyone should ever have to, all while having a smile on his face. He is the most joyous child I have ever met, & when you look at him, you would never know he has been through so much. ⁣
⁣
We hear a consistent theme when others talk about Nolan - Hope, Strength, Happiness, Determination. We couldn’t agree more. ⁣
⁣
While Nolan’s story is far from over, we know he can do anything. He has beaten the odds & proved doctors wrong more times than we could count. He is funny & kind & has the most infectious laugh. ⁣
⁣
I believe that when God made Nolan’s heart, he made it big. He made it grand. He made it joyous. He made a warrior. And this is why Nolan is who he is today & who he will be in life.
⁣
We are forever grateful & forever changed. ⁣
⁣
Nolan, we love you! Happy 7th Heart Anniversary! There is so much more of your story to be written. #nolanrandallmoore

Happy 7th Heart Anniversary to our warrior! ⁣
⁣
Seven years ago today, we handed our 6-month-old to a group of strangers & stood alone in a pre-surgery room of CHOA. We stood silent, almost frozen, crying, & gasping for a breath that would snap us out of the reality we were currently facing. ⁣
⁣
The day we had anticipated was here. Nolan’s heart needed to be repaired. It would require open-heart surgery, a 6-hour operation, & months of recovery. ⁣
⁣
An hour into surgery, we got a call from the OR, “Nolan is successfully on heart & lung bypass.” The translation, “Your child’s life is currently depending on equipment.” Six hours later, we got the call that his heart was beating again. ⁣
⁣⁣
The days & weeks post-surgery are a blur. We thought surgery was the finish line, but it was really a start. A start of heart failure appointments, a start of heart-failure medications, the start of scoliosis, the start of recovery, the start of so many things that we didn’t expect. ⁣
⁣
But it was also the start of hope.

The start of healing.

The start of learning what truly matters.

The start of extreme gratitude.

And in many ways, the start of Nolan’s life.

⁣Thinking back on this day, I can’t believe that seven years have come & gone.

We have seen Nolan fight harder than anyone should ever have to, all while having a smile on his face. He is the most joyous child I have ever met, & when you look at him, you would never know he has been through so much. ⁣
⁣
We hear a consistent theme when others talk about Nolan - Hope, Strength, Happiness, Determination. We couldn’t agree more. ⁣
⁣
While Nolan’s story is far from over, we know he can do anything. He has beaten the odds & proved doctors wrong more times than we could count. He is funny & kind & has the most infectious laugh. ⁣
⁣
I believe that when God made Nolan’s heart, he made it big. He made it grand. He made it joyous. He made a warrior. And this is why Nolan is who he is today & who he will be in life.
⁣
We are forever grateful & forever changed. ⁣
⁣
Nolan, we love you! Happy 7th Heart Anniversary! There is so much more of your story to be written. #nolanrandallmoore

“Ahoy, Great Pumpkin!” The sweetest Halloween yet with my little pumpkin and pirate! 🎃 🏴‍☠️

“Ahoy, Great Pumpkin!” The sweetest Halloween yet with my little pumpkin and pirate! 🎃 🏴‍☠️

🧡 WE NEED YOUR HELP! 🧡

It is that time of year again, and we need your help. Each November, we honor Nolan’s Heart Anniversary by giving back to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and helping other families walking the same path. 🫀🩺

Seven years ago, our brave boy had life-saving open-heart surgery to repair 2 congenital heart defects. During that time, the @babyshusher became our go-to recovery tool. The gentle “Shhh…” sound soothed Nolan when we could not, helping him rest and heal.

Thanks to your generosity, over the last 7 years we have donated over 3,000 Baby Shushers to @childrensatl, comforting thousands of babies recovering from heart surgery.

This year, for Nolan’s 7th Heart Anniversary, we are setting a big goal of donating 700 Baby Shushers for families at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

And the best part? @babyshusher is matching every single donation! 🙌🏼

Every $20 donation buys a Baby Shushers for babies recovering after heart surgery.

Let’s keep spreading comfort, one “Shhh…” and heartbeat at a time. 🧡

Link in bio to donate!

🧡 WE NEED YOUR HELP! 🧡

It is that time of year again, and we need your help. Each November, we honor Nolan’s Heart Anniversary by giving back to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and helping other families walking the same path. 🫀🩺

Seven years ago, our brave boy had life-saving open-heart surgery to repair 2 congenital heart defects. During that time, the @babyshusher became our go-to recovery tool. The gentle “Shhh…” sound soothed Nolan when we could not, helping him rest and heal.

Thanks to your generosity, over the last 7 years we have donated over 3,000 Baby Shushers to @childrensatl, comforting thousands of babies recovering from heart surgery.

This year, for Nolan’s 7th Heart Anniversary, we are setting a big goal of donating 700 Baby Shushers for families at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

And the best part? @babyshusher is matching every single donation! 🙌🏼

Every $20 donation buys a Baby Shushers for babies recovering after heart surgery.

Let’s keep spreading comfort, one “Shhh…” and heartbeat at a time. 🧡

Link in bio to donate!

We carved out some Fall Break pumpkin time, and oh my gourd, we had a blast! 🎃💛

We carved out some Fall Break pumpkin time, and oh my gourd, we had a blast! 🎃💛

11 Years with my rock, my best friend, my person.

We have faced so much together… more than most people ever see. For everything we share publicly, there is an entire world behind the scenes that few truly understand. The hypervigilance. The health anxiety. The medical trauma. The unpredictability. The constant need to stay “on.”

Our hard has never been because of each other. It has been because of what life has asked us to carry together. Because we are not just parents, we are caregivers. A word we could have never imagined 11 years ago.

And even in the chaos, I feel so lucky to do the hard with someone who has always been easy to love and even easier to partner with.

There are times we cannot fully share pieces of our world with others for fear of sounding like too much or too heavy. We have learned to navigate our normal, but we know that to others, it is anything but that.

Still, we can always come to each other without that fear. We show up, we trade turns holding it all together, and we somehow always find our way back to each other.

We have broken cycles. We have grown through pain and chosen joy in the smallest things. We have learned what truly matters because we have lived through what most people only imagine.

I feel grateful every single day to be married to this man and to walk through life, love, and all that comes with it, together.

Joel, I still choose you today, tomorrow, and forever. You are my safest place and the easiest person to love.

Here’s to 11 years and a lifetime more of whatever comes our way. ❤️

11 Years with my rock, my best friend, my person.

We have faced so much together… more than most people ever see. For everything we share publicly, there is an entire world behind the scenes that few truly understand. The hypervigilance. The health anxiety. The medical trauma. The unpredictability. The constant need to stay “on.”

Our hard has never been because of each other. It has been because of what life has asked us to carry together. Because we are not just parents, we are caregivers. A word we could have never imagined 11 years ago.

And even in the chaos, I feel so lucky to do the hard with someone who has always been easy to love and even easier to partner with.

There are times we cannot fully share pieces of our world with others for fear of sounding like too much or too heavy. We have learned to navigate our normal, but we know that to others, it is anything but that.

Still, we can always come to each other without that fear. We show up, we trade turns holding it all together, and we somehow always find our way back to each other.

We have broken cycles. We have grown through pain and chosen joy in the smallest things. We have learned what truly matters because we have lived through what most people only imagine.

I feel grateful every single day to be married to this man and to walk through life, love, and all that comes with it, together.

Joel, I still choose you today, tomorrow, and forever. You are my safest place and the easiest person to love.

Here’s to 11 years and a lifetime more of whatever comes our way. ❤️

This picture has nothing to do with this post, outside of the fact that these two are my why. And the reason that one of my personal core values has always been this: treat people the way I want to be treated.

After the events of this week, I was reminded how tempting it can be to step away from that. When the world feels heavy, it is easier to match the energy around us instead of living out the values we say matter most.

And yet… we still have a choice.

When we walked through our journey with Nolan, that choice became crystal clear. We often had people promise to show up for us but never did. It was painful and disorienting. At the same time, we had strangers step in and become true friends simply because they understood, and they chose to be present. That shaped me deeply.

Out of that season, we made a vow: to keep showing up for others the way we would want them to show up for us. To keep giving even when it is not given back. To resist the urge to measure or match.

It is not just a one-time thing. It is an everyday choice. To reached out. To connect. To keep softening our own hearts even when others remain closed off. At church today we were reminded that sometimes the wait is worth it. Sometimes it takes time for connection, reconciliation, or understanding to grow roots.

I know some may call that naïve. But I have learned that there is a strength that comes from choosing softness, and a perspective that comes from keeping our eyes on what really matters.

And especially this week, I want to hold onto this: we can disagree and still be kind. You can even not like someone, and still be kind. I encourage us all to have conversations rather than simply turning away. Because most of us want the same things anyway. Choose kind. Choose growth. Choose connection, not division. You may be surprised at what you can learn from someone else ♥️

This picture has nothing to do with this post, outside of the fact that these two are my why. And the reason that one of my personal core values has always been this: treat people the way I want to be treated.

After the events of this week, I was reminded how tempting it can be to step away from that. When the world feels heavy, it is easier to match the energy around us instead of living out the values we say matter most.

And yet… we still have a choice.

When we walked through our journey with Nolan, that choice became crystal clear. We often had people promise to show up for us but never did. It was painful and disorienting. At the same time, we had strangers step in and become true friends simply because they understood, and they chose to be present. That shaped me deeply.

Out of that season, we made a vow: to keep showing up for others the way we would want them to show up for us. To keep giving even when it is not given back. To resist the urge to measure or match.

It is not just a one-time thing. It is an everyday choice. To reached out. To connect. To keep softening our own hearts even when others remain closed off. At church today we were reminded that sometimes the wait is worth it. Sometimes it takes time for connection, reconciliation, or understanding to grow roots.

I know some may call that naïve. But I have learned that there is a strength that comes from choosing softness, and a perspective that comes from keeping our eyes on what really matters.

And especially this week, I want to hold onto this: we can disagree and still be kind. You can even not like someone, and still be kind. I encourage us all to have conversations rather than simply turning away. Because most of us want the same things anyway. Choose kind. Choose growth. Choose connection, not division. You may be surprised at what you can learn from someone else ♥️

Yesterday we got good news. 💙🩻

Nolan’s new brace is working better than we could have imagined. His top curve has gone from 23° to 13°, and his bottom curve from 18° to 7°!!!

These last four months have been full of long nights, hard work, and a little boy who refuses to give up. He still has to wear the brace at night, but today feels like proof that his determination, and the incredible doctors who guide us, are making a difference.

Thank you to everyone who sent videos and encouragement. Your love helped carry us through.

As a mom, watching Nolan fight through something he never asked for has been humbling. This journey reminds me daily that hope is real, progress is possible, and that perseverance, no matter how small the steps, always matters. 🌟

#hopeinthehard #scoliosisstrong #nolanrandallmoore

Yesterday we got good news. 💙🩻

Nolan’s new brace is working better than we could have imagined. His top curve has gone from 23° to 13°, and his bottom curve from 18° to 7°!!!

These last four months have been full of long nights, hard work, and a little boy who refuses to give up. He still has to wear the brace at night, but today feels like proof that his determination, and the incredible doctors who guide us, are making a difference.

Thank you to everyone who sent videos and encouragement. Your love helped carry us through.

As a mom, watching Nolan fight through something he never asked for has been humbling. This journey reminds me daily that hope is real, progress is possible, and that perseverance, no matter how small the steps, always matters. 🌟

#hopeinthehard #scoliosisstrong #nolanrandallmoore

It feels overwhelming vulnerable posting here, but this week, I had the honor of sharing my story at my company conference, where the theme was about facing hard things and navigating paths you didn’t expect to take.

I didn’t do it without tears (and they were plentiful at the beginning) but I spoke about what it feels like when life doesn’t follow your script. How, when things are unexpected, it can feel like it wasn’t supposed to be that way.

But your joy and grief can exist at the same time, and your pain does not disqualify your joy. And sometimes, the unexpected life you’re living is the one that grows you the most.

And maybe… it was supposed to be this way ♥️🧩

It feels overwhelming vulnerable posting here, but this week, I had the honor of sharing my story at my company conference, where the theme was about facing hard things and navigating paths you didn’t expect to take.

I didn’t do it without tears (and they were plentiful at the beginning) but I spoke about what it feels like when life doesn’t follow your script. How, when things are unexpected, it can feel like it wasn’t supposed to be that way.

But your joy and grief can exist at the same time, and your pain does not disqualify your joy. And sometimes, the unexpected life you’re living is the one that grows you the most.

And maybe… it was supposed to be this way ♥️🧩

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