Imperfect yet Priceless: Embracing Unconditional Parental Love

Baby Sutton, born in Texas with a cleft lip and palate, has captured the hearts of many due to a touching newborn photoshoot arranged by her parents and skillfully executed by the talented photographer, Shannon Morton.

The photograph that Morton shared on her Facebook page, featuring 9-week-old Sutton peacefully asleep, adorned with a cream sash and matching floral headband, unexpectedly went viral. Responding to this surge of attention, Sutton’s parents established a Facebook page named “My Cleft Cutie” to provide updates about their daughter’s journey and to extend support to others within the community facing similar circumstances.

In spite of the challenges stemming from her condition, Sutton has already undergone a surgery to address her cleft lip and nose, with additional procedures on the horizon. Her resilience has inspired a sense of unity and comfort among people who have rallied around her story. For those interested in delving deeper into Sutton’s narrative and tracking her progress, the “My Cleft Cutie” Facebook page serves as an excellent starting point.

This snapshot of baby Sutton, shared by photographer Shannon Morton, marks the inception of her story.

Bored Panda contacted Shannon Morton, the artist responsible for the viral photo of baby Sutton, to uncover more details about this heartwarming tale. The initial curiosity was centered on how Courtney and Gavin Gardner, Sutton’s parents, came to choose Morton as their photographer. Shannon explained, “I initially met Sutton’s parents at church. I was aware of their story before Sutton was born. I had the opportunity to meet with them prior to her birth to prepare for her session and strategize how best to care for her during the photoshoot.”

Baby Sutton was welcomed into the world in Texas, with a cleft lip and palate.

Shannon unveiled the first image of the 9-week-old infant with the caption, “So. Many. Smiley babies in the studio recently! This is sweet Sutton, the cutest little redhead!”

Moving forward, the focus shifted to the day of the photoshoot. Ordinarily, newborn photoshoots can prove demanding and stressful for all parties involved—the photographer, parents, and most importantly, the baby. Bored Panda inquired whether this held true for the Gardners. Shannon shared, “It was remarkably tender. Sutton was a calm and sleepy baby. She remained asleep for the majority of her session. Whenever she needed to eat, Sutton’s mom would delicately and affectionately lift her head and feed her from a bottle. My assistant and I endeavored to capture the most exquisite pictures of Sutton to honor her and her parents.”

At present, the post has garnered 726k likes and 6.8k comments from the Facebook community.

Neither Morton nor Sutton’s parents, Courtney and Gavin Gardner, anticipated such an overwhelming online response.

Delving further, Shannon was asked about her initial reaction to the sudden viral sensation. She stated, “I strive to post a picture or two of every baby who visits my studio for photos. It was Sutton’s turn, but I certainly did not anticipate the reception she received. Both her parents and I were pleasantly surprised as the likes and comments poured in. The warm reception, words of love, and messages of encouragement continued consistently for nearly a week. Witnessing how baby Sutton brought people together was truly beautiful.”

The overwhelming community interest prompted the Gardners to create the “My Cleft Cutie” Facebook page.

“My Cleft Cutie” serves as a platform where the parents share updates about their daughter’s journey.

Concluding the conversation, Shannon offered deeper insights into that special photoshoot. She conveyed, “After more than 12 years of professionally photographing newborns, I can often predict when a baby will smile. However, I cannot guarantee that I will capture a smile, as a baby may not smile or the moment might be too fleeting for me to catch, or I might not be ready with my camera. What makes Sutton’s case so endearing is that she smiled three distinct times, and we were able to capture all three smiles for her parents!! It was truly a gift from God. I believe this detail contributes to the special quality of that initial photograph – her sweet smile.”

The comments section of each post draws numerous individuals sharing their personal stories and experiences related to cleft lips and palates.

The page fosters a sense of community wherein members offer solace to others facing similar circumstances.

Little Sutton has already triumphed over her initial surgery to address her cleft lip and nose.

At present, the baby girl is in the process of recovery following her first surgery, with more procedures on the horizon.

Despite her challenging start in life, Sutton remains a joyful baby, her adorable countenance spreading cheer to all around her.

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