*The following incredibly true story of baby Haddasah was contributed by Haddasah’s mother, Ada, the Creative Director of Cherish August Event Production & founder of Hadassah by Goodness. Her story has been featured on the TODAY Show and MSNBC’s, “Stories We Tell: The Fertility Secret.”*
What’s the big deal about turning one? Well, sure, it’s a feat, but for this little angel, it’s a dream come true. A dream 10.5 years in the making. While baby Hadassah was conceived through IVF in 2014, it took another 8 years before Ada and Tari would physically hold her.
In fact, it took:
•10.5 Years of waiting.
•10 rounds of IVF.
•16 major reproductive-related surgeries.
•Losing my fallopian tubes in the process.
•24 plus times under anesthesia for reproductive matters.
•10 trigger shots.
•20 vials of Lupron.
•55 boxes of Menopur.
•5 sleeves of Coumadin.
•~514 injections (64 with 22g 1 1/2” needles)
•20 medium-sized biohazard containers.
•5 different states for endometriosis treatment.
•Gaining 60 lbs.
•Losing 60 lbs.
•96 total follicles.
•60 (4AA) blastocyst.
•6 PGT/A euploid embryos.
•4 painful and unbearable losses.
•1 failed surrogacy.
•1 positive pregnancy test.
•8+ doctor’s visits.
•1 scary vasa previa.
•1 intense c-section.
On December 5th, 2022, at 2:00 PM, Hadassah was born with fully developed lungs and a full head of hair. After 48 hours in the NICU, Ada and Tari got to bring Hadassah home. So when it came to celebrating Hadassah’s first birthday, it helps that Ada is not just Hadassah’s mom, but planner, florist, and creative designer at Cherish August.
For the Team at Cherish August, the design started with a dress.
When Ada and Tari received the positive pregnancy test, Ada bought an Agatha Ruiz De La Prada Multi-Colored Long Sleeve dress as a token of faith and prayed that one day, her baby girl would celebrate her first birthday in this dress. This dress, a symbol of hope, faith, and goodness, became the impetus for the design, which centered around the colors of the dress.
Cherish August worked with Mayesh flowers to source flowers in the color scheme, as well as flowers of the month for the Hadassah quiz guests played.
Cherish August worked with the amazing Print Deco to design invitations in Hadassah’s likeness – a profile of Hadassah’s face surrounded by flowers in the same color as the dress served as the foundation for the invites and all the branding for the event.
Hadassah by Goodness took place at ABeechAbove, the perfect venue in the beautiful Valley of Phoenix, Arizona.
With its manicured lawn, gorgeous gardens with roses, sunflowers, lemon, pomegranate, and orange trees, as well as peppers, zucchini, lettuce, and arugula, it brings farm-to-table to life, something Cuisine Privé excels at. Of course, it helps that the Chef is Hadassah’s aunt, so no stone was left unturned.
With a menu fit for a queen including, a live omelet station, spiced Belgian waffles with brown sugar run bananas and whip cream, gourmet cheeseburger slides with maple sirloin patty, gruyere, peppadew aioli on a brioche bun, goodness fried rice, and fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice from the ABeechAbove garden, guests’ tummies were full of goodness.
Guests were welcomed to a sea of color in the colors of Hadassah’s dress.
From the backdrops and balloons by All Trades XO to the kiddo table, chairs, and balloon house by Party on a Cloud AZ, the atmosphere was prime for children’s laughter and joy. Hadassah was in her comfort zone in the soft play area with a ball pit and a mini lama—she could not get enough of it.
The MC, JayWuraMusic, got the party started with Match the Month—The Hadassah Quiz game, where guests were asked to select the flower of the month that corresponded with what month Hadassah met a particular milestone and place it on a 6-foot wide and tall letter h, created by the finest print and design AZ. The result was a flowery h with flowers in the color scheme of Hadassah’s dress.
Throughout the event, guests were asked to do two things.
First, record a message for Hadassah on a telephone by AudioGuestbook Co with the following message:
1) Introduce yourself.
2) What goodness means to you?
3) What was your journey to Hadassah?
4) Tell her one thing you never want her to forget.
Second, play mirror-mirror with your child. This was done by writing words of affirmation on a sticky note and placing it on a large mirror. It was so powerful to see this but to also witness the kids writing notes to each other. Words like, “You are beautiful, you are loved, and you are destined for greatness” covered the mirror. It was a sight to behold, and one we are sure Hadassah will look back on with pride when she is older.
Cakes by Kenna designed the most whimsical cake to match Hadassah’s dress. Adult guests were treated to Hadassah by Goodness custom-scented candles while the kids were gifted with custom letter crayons in each child’s name.
During our short stay in the NICU, we learned that NICU nurses are often overlooked and overworked.
This led to the inception of Hadassah by Goodness, a commission created to share goodness with NICU nurses, babies, and hospitals, all over the world. So in lieu of gifts, we asked guests to make a donation in Hadassah’s name to the NICU of the hospital where Hadassah was born.
Photography by Katherine Nicole and MC Media Co captured every beautiful moment for a first birthday that was based on the Goodness, mercy, and compassion of God.
Today, Hadassah celebrates her second birthday! From the entire Muna Team, we wish you a wonderful birthday celebration filled with happiness and love. And from the looks of your first one, the second is sure to be just as incredible!
Looking for more first birthday celebrations?
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Vendors:
- Designer | Planner | Florist: Cherish August Event Production
- Catering: Cuisine Privé™️
- Venue: ABeechAbove™️
- MC: Jay Wura
- Balloons | Backdrops: All Trades Xo LLC, The Finest D&P LLC
- Parchments | Branding: Printdeco
- Photography: Photography by Katherine Nicole
- Cake: Cake by Kenna
- Guestbook: The Audio Guestbook Co
- Content creator: @mc.media.co
- Floral Supply: Mayesh Wholesale Phoenix
- Soft play: Carousel Softplay
- Popsicle cart and cotton candy: Dessertslu LLC Cotton Candy
- Rentals: Party On A Cloud AZ, Material Girls Weddings
- Balloon house: Party On A Cloud AZ
- Custom scented candles: @candlebyus
Excellent article! So well and succinctly written. So glad it’s published today on her second birthday, too! Love it and of course sooo thankful to the Lord for my granddaughter!
Happy 2nd birthday dear sweet Haddasah! Blessed with such a beautiful and kind family 💕. Sending you love from the Rascon’s in Arizona.