Text by Mary Ellen Hendrickson  |  Photography by Jim Wells

Some moments are frozen in time.

Brenda Carpenter says she, “shouldn’t have been out driving,” the icy night she skidded off the road and rolled into power lines that would burn her limbs until she was discovered the next morning.

Kelly Lenington says he, “almost died,” after freeing his left leg from the fierce rotations of a grain auger.

Matt Paton only recalls pulling onto a road to take a motorcycle for a test ride.  Observers told him later that he and the bike were struck first by a young driver running a stop sign, then again by another driver unable to stop, severing his right leg.

Tim Chaffin adapted to the loss of his right leg following cancer at age 12, and became so intent on being able to, “walk smooth,” that he later became a prosthetist.   Kristi Chaffin met Tim and first fell in love with his knack for, “getting the right fit,” for her right leg, amputated following a blood clot, then fell in love with him.

Adding Physical and Emotional Support to the Birthing Team

Bringing a baby into the world is truly one of life’s most memorable moments. Statistics show more and more Montana mamas are searching for doulas to share their experiences.

From the ancient Greek word doulos, meaning servant, a doula is often confused with a midwife. Unlike a midwife, a doula does not deliver a baby. In fact, doulas do not replace any medical personnel. Donna Sanders, a doula in north central Montana, explains, “I am trained in breathing, relaxation techniques, and massage. It’s my job to be a tool for a mother and father whose wish is to have a natural birth (although I have been a doula for women who have undergone c-sections as well) and to give continuous physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and just after birth.”