About

The Kochs

In 2009, we (Blake & Lindsey) met at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX.  After getting married in March of 2010, we moved to Victoria, TX to start our journey together as husband and wife.

Today, Blake is a teacher and coach at Creekview High School in Carrollton, TX where he serves as the head baseball coach, head freshmen football coach, and a geometry teacher.  Lindsey has spent her entire career in higher education and is currently the Director of the Office of Student Experience at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX.  We live in Garland, TX and are members of Watermark Community Church where we serve as leaders in the premarital ministry.

Purpose behind the blog

At the beginning of June in 2018, we found out that God had answered our prayers by blessings us with our first child.  Unfortunately, our baby girl, Elizabeth Joy Koch (the namesake of this site), has been diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a life-limiting chromosomal disorder.  We developed this blog to keep our family and friends up-to-date during the pregnancy, share Elizabeth’s story with the world, and encourage others by sharing the gospel and what God is teaching us during this difficult journey.  We are committed to celebrating Elizabeth’s life, however long or short it may be, and we hope this site will be an encouragement to all and a testament to God’s goodness, even in the midst of tragedy.

What is Trisomy 18?

Trisomy 18 is a chromosomal disorder caused by an extra 18th chromosome that disrupts the normal pattern of development of a child in significant ways.  Affected babies will often have heart defects and abnormalities of other organs that develop before birth.  Some of Elizabeth’s abnormalities include hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), double outlet right ventricle (DORV), clenched hands, rocker bottom feet, and choroid plexus cysts on her brain.  Due to the presence of life-threatening medical issues, many babies with Trisomy 18 will die before birth or within their first month out of the womb. Currently about 90% of Trisomy 18 pregnancies are terminated after a blood test indicates the presence of the chromosomal defect.  More information about Trisomy 18 can be found at http://www.trisomy18.org.

Site Information

Site photo credit:  Kimberly Torres