i had the joy of meeting baby fiona and her beautiful mummy last week at children’s hospital in minneapolis. fiona is growing stronger there by the day and was so so sweet and good for her photo session. please keep baby fiona in your prayers…she will be having surgery next month. thank you, steph…wonderful to meet you and your baby girl.
i am continuously humbled by the wonderful families i meet through the pictures of hope foundation. the robertson family was no exception…so gracious, sweet and loving. at 22 weeks of pregnancy, melia’s mommy found out that her membranes had ruptured and she had placental abruption. after a month of bed rest, Melia Joy was born at 26 and a half weeks gestation, weighing in at exactly 2 pounds. the timing of her entry into the world was perfect-the doctors told her family that she would not have survived more than one hour longer inside of her mom. sweet baby melia truly is a miracle…she is perfect in every way and will be blessed forever by all of the people who love her. god bless you sweet baby girl…you keep growing bigger and stronger so you can go home to your adorable brother and sister.:) thank you amanda and eric for allowing me to photograph your family.
on this valentine’s day i am going to share a story of a mother’s love. one i experienced three months ago. it has taken me this long to be able to write about my time with wyatt and his beautiful family. the olig family has not been far from my mind since i met them. i arrived at the hospital that tuesday morning in november to photograph baby wyatt who was born prematurely 8 months prior to our meeting. this was a meeting that had been rescheduled a few times due to wyatt’s health. i heard from wyatt’s mom a couple days prior and she let me know that wyatt’s health was deteriorating. when i arrived that tuesday morning i was greeted by wyatt’s mom. she gratefully hugged me and i felt an instant connection with her. she told me that she had wished i was there on better circumstances and then explained that hospice had been called…they needed to let baby wyatt go to heaven. my heart pounded rapidly and i held back the tears that were wanting to fall steadily from my eyes. i held wyatt’s mom tightly and again felt so connected to her. i still think about this moment a lot. this was a stranger to me, yet i felt so close to her. i think it was because i am a mom also and i felt as if i could feel her pain in my heart. i mean, i could never in a million years even begin to understand the pain she and her husband were surrounded with, but a mother’s love for her child…this i could understand. and, for that reason alone, i felt a sadness that did not leave me for weeks. wyatt’s parents were strong…it was a strength that could only be given by God. we spent a half hour photographing perfect little wyatt..mostly with his mommy. it was beautiful…truly the most beautiful thing i have ever photographed. there is so much emotion involved with my job…i know this. i photograph the love parents feel for their children all the time and it is so lovely. this is what i love most about my job. but, the love i saw in the hospital room that day was a love that i could never even begin to explain. as i sat inches away from baby wyatt clicking my camera, i could no longer control my tears. i tried, but it was no longer possible for me to do so. my experience that day with the olig family was the most humbling of my career. i feel grateful that i was able to meet baby wyatt…he blessed me and so many others. wyatt went to heaven the following day where he is being held in the palm of God’s hand.
sweet baby addyson was born on march 29th at just over one pound…she is a little miracle and i am happy to report that she is now over five pounds and hopefully going home to her mom and dad soon. my pictures of hope photography sessions are nothing but humbling. i love every minute i spend with these wonderful families and their precious babies. each story is amazing and miraculous and i leave feeling incredibly blessed to have met the families i have the opportunity to take photos for. marissa, addyson’s mom was such a sweetheart. and, while i was at the hospital, she showed me photos of addyson just after she was born. she told me that she had just finished nursing school and that at one point (before addyson came) she had considered being a nurse in the NICU, but that she didn’t feel she could ever have a heart strong enough. she then looked at me with a smile and told me that she is not reconsidering as she knows she could not only be a good nurse, but a great support system to the families that are in the NICU. i hope she moves forward with this because i think she would be the most wonderful nurse in this setting. she just had this ease about her …the way she touched and looked at her baby girl warmed my heart. when i left, she put addyson down in her bed and told her that she would be right back and that she loved her…so sweet. god bless you sweet baby addyson. continue to grow strong, beautiful girl. marissa, i am so happy you found me.
The Pictures of Hope Foundation, a national charitable organization, benefiting families in the neonatal intensive care unit {NICU}. The pictures of hope foundation {POH} is comprised of professional photographers from all over the united states, that provides an opportunity for professional photographers to give back to their community. Members of Pictures of Hope, offer complimentary, documentary-style photography services to families with a child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Time spent in the NICU is often an unexpected journey for families, a journey full of overwhelming emotions…sadness, confusion, hope, celebration and unfortunately, at times grief. Throughout this roller coaster of emotions, many parents do not consider the importance of documenting these moments in their lives nor do they think about how much they will truly cherish these images years down the road. Pictures of Hope provides you with invaluable photographs of your sweet one that you will cherish forever.
At the request of the parents, a photographer will come to your NICU room and photograph your baby using the available light in your room. Pictures of Hope is a charitable organization, there are no fees for the services provided by our participating members.
i love these sessions…and have worked with nothing but exceptional families and parents. these babies are true blessings…when i look into their beautiful, sweet eyes, i know how differently it could have been. sweet baby elizabeth is doing so well and is getting so close to going home to her two big brothers and one sister…i am thinking she is going to get a lot of love and attention.:) keeping growing strong miss elizabeth…you are a sweet pea, little one.
