Please say hello to Ms A, a little girl who arrived at term much loved by her parents and extended family. I was with them for Now I Lay Me Down to sleep on Tuesday as they said their farewells to their brave little fighter, standing in a protective circle as life support was withdrawn. I want Ms A’s family to know that we are holding each and every one of you–and your little girl–in our hearts now and in the future.

I also want to let the rest of you know, again, about the free services provided to bereaved families through Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. Please visit our website at: NILMDTS.

As most everyone knows, there are two charities that are near and dear to my heart. One is Vancouver’s Food Bank, and leaving a comment on any post on this blog garners them a $1 donation from Jane Photo (with which they can purchase $3 of food for the needy), and the other is Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. Today, I am thinking about all the moms who have lost their babies in the last year. This is their first mama’s day, just as sure as if they’d brought their tiny bundles home from the hospital with them.

All of us are holding you today. We haven’t forgotten you, or your babies.

One mom for whom I photographed this year, Trish, bravely shared her story for one of our community papers this week:

Burnaby News Leader

I wanted–once again–to bring everyone’s attention to the organization I vounteer for, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. This US organization supplies volunteer photographers to families experiencing an infant death, and has been featured in the Vancouver Sun and Macleans magazine this fall. I have written a brief article for Urban Baby and Toddler, a BC publication, for their winter issue. As well, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep will be profiled on Newsworld TV the evening of Dec 8.

I want everyone to speak of this wonderful organization, if you could, with one friend, and ask that your friend do the same with one of their friends. There are so very many BC parents experiencing infant loss, and I long for the day when each and every one of them will know about, and utilize if they wish, NILMDTS services. Professional photographers, volunteer all, provide sensitive in-hospital sessions and then provide a CD of images free of charge. As always, folks can find out more at: www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org.

I shot three new babies for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep this week, and one maternity for this lovely woman featured below, T, and her sweet loving husband, M. They lost their son, Jos, last Thursday, and I know they miss him more than words can ever express.

On the subject of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and parents who will be having a rough time this Thanksgiving, I wanted so much to share these images captured just last week of tiny, adorable Evangeline Grace for her grieving parents, S and R. She arrived much, much too early, at 20 weeks, suffering from Trisomy 18. There is so, so much love evident in these photographs. Her sorrowing parents just sent me this email:

I meant to e-mail you and let you know that we received the dvd. The photos are absolutely beautiful! It was such a relief to receive them because the photos we took with our own camera in the hospital are very dark and it is very difficult to make out Evangeline in them. When we saw the photos you took it brought such relief to me that I will be able to see her forever now. The NILMDTS organization and you are such a godsend. I don’t think most people realize how important it is to capture these special “angel babies’ on film for the parents to be able to look upon them and spend special moments thinking about their babies. We are forever grateful to you and the NILMDTS organization for making our situation just a little bit easier. My husband I are were commenting earlier how it takes a really special and caring person to do what you do and to be so kind with a warm heart and warm words; we can never thank you enough. You are a true inspiration. …We would love to share with others the photos of Evangeline.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

S and R

Please, as always, feel free to leave a comment below about this or any other blog entry.

A few weeks ago, Mary Frances Hill, a reporter for the Vancouver Sun, approached us to write an article, and it appeared on the front page. What wonderful coverage. They featured a little tyke I photographed for the organization earlier this year whose name was Noah Neufeld. Though his prognosis was dire, Noah was born alive and quite alert, as you can see from the featured photographs here. We were all pretty happy and celebratory that evening in the hospital, then saddened when Noah died 28 days later.

I know for a fact that this incredible family has helped Noah touch many, many more families as they have told their story again and again.

As families celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, please take an extra second to give thanks for your kiddos, and to remember the families who have lost theirs this year. Our thoughts and hearts are with them.

You can find NILMDTS at .

The Vancouver Sun story, without its photos, appears at

This is little Noah Neufeld who was born in February of this year, and lived for 28 days.

The photographers who volunteer for the organization Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep are always gratified with press coverage. I know it’s our dream that no family losing a baby will have to go without professional photographs of their little guy or gal, and media coverage really expands the number of families who know of our services. We always hope that someone may remember seeing something about us that will help at just the right moment.

Two of the families I photographed for this year–and who have suffered impossible losses with dignity and strength–were kind enough to share their stories with Tom MacMillan writing for Victoria’s Times Colonist. Please feel free to register at the paper and read the story. Several of my photos appear–even one attributed to one of my colleagues.

http://digital.timescolonist.com/epaper/viewer.aspx The article appears on page 25 of today’s paper.