Hope Chimeno was just 10 days old when Hurricane Harvey came sweeping through her neighborhood. As the flood waters threatened her Orange, Texas home, little Hope's parents knew they had to get out. Luckily, there was help nearby in the way of the Cajun Navy.
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Two brothers, Clint and Cris, rescued the entire Chimeno family, including Hope, her parents, and her older brother and sister. They quickly whisked them off to Lake Charles, La.
Since safety was so important, simple milestones, like newborn photos, were put on the back burner. However, Cris' wife didn't want the family to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime moment. So, she texted her photographer friend Noelle Mills and asked if she could take some photos of the family.
Mills not only took amazing photos of the family, but she did it for free. In an interview with Today, Mills said that giving her photography was important.
"I had to ask myself, 'What's most important right now? To give to this family who could have lost so much,'" she said. "I don't have a lot of time or money, but what I can give is my photography."
Mills took the photos of the family in the boat that rescued them from flood waters. Baby Hope wore a onesie that reads "I Survived Hurricane Harvey," and posed her on a traditional life vest. Since Mills posted the images online, they've received hundreds of positive comments.
In the end, Mills and Hope's family is now trying to spread the message of the baby's namesake - hope. Even in a time of darkness, you can find little rays of sunshine. Hope's family says that had it not been for their bundle of joy, they might not have gotten out in time.
Thankfully, they are now back at home and enjoying life with the new addition to their family.
