When my baby was about 2 or 3 months old, I stopped in at a friend's business place for a quick visit, and just before leaving, a girl who used to be a labor and delivery nurse approached me about a charity that was in desperate need of photographers. (The last I checked there was only 1 photographer for the Lafayette area.) My heart stopped a little when she handed me the brochure. It was for an organization called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS).
I knew exactly what it was, because I came across their website when I was pregnant for my now 1 year old, and balled like a baby when I read some of the stories on the site. It is an organization for families who have just lost a baby, or will lose their baby soon after birth. A photographer goes to the hospital and does a complimentary shoot for the family with their baby.
With tears in my eyes, I looked back at the girl and said, "You know, I thought about joining NILMDTS a while back, but especially now that I'm a mother, I don't think I can do this." - I honestly didn't know how to approach it. First off, I was still a HUGE ball of hormones from the birth of my baby. She pleaded me to look into it, or ask around to see if anyone else would interested in helping out. I held onto the brochure- believe it or not it made it through our move to the new house, and I STILL have it. I told her I would pass the word around for her. I never did stop thinking about joining NILMDTS.
Fast forward a bit. A fellow photographer put up a post for a webinar for an amazing photographer named Sandy Puc. I had no idea what I stumbled upon. I started watching and after about 5 minutes I was hooked. She was a very inspirational woman, and I got caught up in her 3 day long webinar series. At the end of day 2, she ended her webinar with a clip of how she co-founded NILMDTS. The first thing out of my mouth was "SHUT UP!" I called my husband in to listen (He has had this organization on his mind since he heard about it too).
The last thing she said was "Photographers all over are getting so burned out with this organization because there aren't enough people. They are spending every waking hour donating and working for this organization. You cannot change the fact that these people will lose their child, but you can give them the best gift ever- A memory of their child" Once again, I was going through my entire box of kleenex.
I had the biggest change of heart ever. I couldn't walk away and do nothing. I have been given the gift of photography, and it's time I use it to give back. Now this will be the hardest thing I will ever have to do, for I don't deal with death well. What I can give to a family going through one of the hardest things ever will absolutely be worth so much more than anything I have ever done. The thought that there isn't someone there when a family desperately wants those last moments captured eats at me so much.
I am now filling out the paperwork to get the ball rolling for NILMDTS. I encourage each of you to look into donating something to this wonderful organization. Pro photographers, please look into it. I am probably the most emotional person you will ever meet, so I know you can do it. Those of you who aren't photogs, please donate. Grab your box of tissues before visiting their site - you WILL need it! Their website is http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/
I do want to end this post on a light note though. All while spending all my weekend watching a Sandy Puc webinar, I was celebrating the birth of my ooey gooey baby! She has made it to a year, and is such a funny child. I figured I would post a picture from her birthday! (Of course I work as the photographer for my kid's party! It's too much fun to pass up! Ok, I lie. I passed the camera off for a while to get messy with the bebe!)
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| Me, my Ooey Gooey baby, and My Crazy Hubby! |
