The Gift of Photography By Elizabeth Donham
Pregnant women often worry about the health of their unborn baby and most babies are born with little drama and perfect health. There are times, however, when the unthinkable happens. It is parents’ worst fear. For Manuel and Sarita Ocon their worst fear was realized on October 10, 2006. Manuel was running errands and Sarita was at home preparing to feed their 3 young daughters. She was pregnant with their fourth child when she went into labor - but this time it felt different. Heavily bleeding she called Manuel and begged him to hurry home to take her to the hospital.
Once there Manuel thought it would be a few hours before she delivered so he took his three hungry girls to the hospital cafeteria. He had been through this routine three times before and was confident the doctors and nurses would help get Sarita comfortable and he would rejoin her with the kids once they were fed. The idea that anything was even remotely wrong was far from his mind. When he returned a short time later to her room, expecting to find her hooked up to an epidural and sitting (more or less) comfortably in labor, he was instead greeted by a doctor with the horrible news that their son “did not make it." It happened all so fast.
“…..they (the nurses) brought my son to me wrapped up like a newborn baby and handed him to me.” Manuel shares. “I just started crying and telling God, “Why him? Please help me, please revive my son!” “My husband came in - the whole family did.” Sarita tells of the hours after her emergency C-Section delivery of their full-term still baby boy Jonah Manuel Ocon. “Manuel and I cried so hard. I just remember saying sorry and blaming myself. I was supposed to be the Mom and not let this happen.”
“Later I was asked if I would like a volunteer photographer to take pictures for our memories,” says Sarita. “I said yes….it would be the only way to ever look back. When I met our photographer the tone in her voice was so understanding, soft and just reached out to me. I was so happy to know that she did in fact capture every moment, of every feeling and our whole story though her pictures. I will never regret holding my son and saying yes to my son’s photographer. I could not thank her enough……”
When a family is faced with the loss of their baby, professional photography is not often the first thought they have on their minds. Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep volunteers work to inform and educate hospital staff of our services so they can share this gift with families. With the parents’ consent, a local NILMDTS area coordinator is notified that a photographer has been requested. The photographer sensitively and compassionately creates portraits of the baby and family. Within a few weeks these images are delivered to the families. There is never a charge for this service - it is always a gift.
“As a healthcare professional, specifically in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit," says Rebecca A. Bratcher, Child Life Specialist at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento. "I feel overwhelmingly grateful for having the ability to offer parents and families the gift of 'Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep'. Time captured…of the most beautiful and intimate of moments…between parent and child is precious and sacred. These images celebrate and honor the existence of life without end…and what an honor it is to be able to offer this gift. Time and again I hear from families of how thankful and indebted they feel for receiving the everlasting images of their beautiful baby. A parents’ ability to express gratitude in the depths of grief continue to validate the importance of this foundation. Although no one could ever imagine being faced with such a situation, this is an invaluable service available to our community and to preserving the legacy of a child’s life.”
The NILMDTS Foundation is centered in Colorado, however, over 6,000 NILMDTS volunteers now photograph in all 50 states as well as 25 international countries. It is our goal that all families that might benefit from our services be aware of this organization whether this is through hospital staff or family friends. If you are interested in more information about NILMDTS please visit their website at: http://www.nilmdts.com/
Once there Manuel thought it would be a few hours before she delivered so he took his three hungry girls to the hospital cafeteria. He had been through this routine three times before and was confident the doctors and nurses would help get Sarita comfortable and he would rejoin her with the kids once they were fed. The idea that anything was even remotely wrong was far from his mind. When he returned a short time later to her room, expecting to find her hooked up to an epidural and sitting (more or less) comfortably in labor, he was instead greeted by a doctor with the horrible news that their son “did not make it." It happened all so fast.
“…..they (the nurses) brought my son to me wrapped up like a newborn baby and handed him to me.” Manuel shares. “I just started crying and telling God, “Why him? Please help me, please revive my son!” “My husband came in - the whole family did.” Sarita tells of the hours after her emergency C-Section delivery of their full-term still baby boy Jonah Manuel Ocon. “Manuel and I cried so hard. I just remember saying sorry and blaming myself. I was supposed to be the Mom and not let this happen.”
“Later I was asked if I would like a volunteer photographer to take pictures for our memories,” says Sarita. “I said yes….it would be the only way to ever look back. When I met our photographer the tone in her voice was so understanding, soft and just reached out to me. I was so happy to know that she did in fact capture every moment, of every feeling and our whole story though her pictures. I will never regret holding my son and saying yes to my son’s photographer. I could not thank her enough……”
When a family is faced with the loss of their baby, professional photography is not often the first thought they have on their minds. Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep volunteers work to inform and educate hospital staff of our services so they can share this gift with families. With the parents’ consent, a local NILMDTS area coordinator is notified that a photographer has been requested. The photographer sensitively and compassionately creates portraits of the baby and family. Within a few weeks these images are delivered to the families. There is never a charge for this service - it is always a gift.
“As a healthcare professional, specifically in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit," says Rebecca A. Bratcher, Child Life Specialist at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento. "I feel overwhelmingly grateful for having the ability to offer parents and families the gift of 'Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep'. Time captured…of the most beautiful and intimate of moments…between parent and child is precious and sacred. These images celebrate and honor the existence of life without end…and what an honor it is to be able to offer this gift. Time and again I hear from families of how thankful and indebted they feel for receiving the everlasting images of their beautiful baby. A parents’ ability to express gratitude in the depths of grief continue to validate the importance of this foundation. Although no one could ever imagine being faced with such a situation, this is an invaluable service available to our community and to preserving the legacy of a child’s life.”
The NILMDTS Foundation is centered in Colorado, however, over 6,000 NILMDTS volunteers now photograph in all 50 states as well as 25 international countries. It is our goal that all families that might benefit from our services be aware of this organization whether this is through hospital staff or family friends. If you are interested in more information about NILMDTS please visit their website at: http://www.nilmdts.com/
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