I work with so many amazing families and some have stories that are too precious not to share. During my maternity leave, I wanted to dedicate several blog entries to the wonderful families that I photograph and recognize the organizations they support and/or the businesses they have started.
This first family has a special place in my heart. After you read their story in mommy’s words, I’m sure you will find a soft spot for them as well! Meet The Hodges, supporters of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep…
When you hear the words “Now I lay me down to sleep,” you probably think of a sweet, soft spoken prayer. When I hear those words, my heart drops. In 2008, my first child, our precious son, passed away in the NICU when he was only 5 weeks old. I actually had never heard of the organization Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep until my husband and I, so helpless and heartbroken, were faced with this unthinkable tragedy. In the numbing moments after our son went to be with God, the nurses offered to do everything they could to help us preserve as many memories of him as possible. One of his sweet nurses pulled me aside and told me about a group of photographers who volunteer to take pictures of newborns that have passed away. She said she could call them and someone would be there within an hour or two to take beautiful and tasteful pictures that we would have forever of our little boy. I hardly remember agreeing, but I did. The nurses told me that the photographer would be very gentle and would take the pictures right there in his bed at the hospital.
For a long time, I was too upset to even think about the pictures, but as time has passed, I have thought about the lady who took our son’s pictures and what an amazing service she selflessly provided to our grieving family. I can’t even imagine being able to volunteer to do what she did. It is amazing to me that this photographer cared enough to do something so personal for my husband and me, who were total strangers. I am so thankful for our photographer and for all of the other volunteer photographers across the country that are willing to memorialize our angel babies in a way that we would not be able to.
Honestly, I have never been able to bring myself to look at those pictures. We have a CD of them and they stay in my nightstand. I like to remember our son with my own pictures and memories for now. However, for a while, my husband looked at them often, and I think it helped him grieve to know that our son’s pictures were there at anytime. We have since been blessed with twins. When our twins get old enough to understand what happened to their brother, I hope I am able to get those precious pictures out and share them with my girls.
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Next up on the blog, a NILMDTS photographer. *Amy Larson Photography is not associated with NILMDTS but supports another organization that I hope to share more about in the future, Tiny Sparrow Foundation.
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