I just had to share little Jack’s story here as he is a picture of strength and hope. As some of you may already know, I volunteer for an organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (nilmdts.org) which primarily provides photography services for parents experiencing an infant loss. I have had the honor of working with 10 different families this year to help them create lasting memories. I don’t plan on sharing details of those stories here as it is so personal, plus I don’t want to depress everyone reading this!
Anyway, I’m happy to report that Jack’s family ended up not needing me! I’ve never been so glad to be unneeded! Okay, I did take photos for them, but not for the reason we initially thought. This story is a happy one, so I’d love to share a little about Jack and show some photos.
Vicki first got in touch with me about a month before Jack was scheduled to be born. She and her husband, James, were told that Jack’s chances of survival were low due to his missing a large part of his diaphragm (medical diagnosis: CDH). I suggested doing maternity portraits as Vicki’s pregnancy is part of Jack’s story too. He was put on a heart and lung machine immediately after birth and went in for surgery soon after that. Despite the odds against him, he fought through everything and was able to go home a few weeks ago at three months old. Vicki and James invited me to come take photos of Jack last week at their home and I was thrilled. He did have to go back in for another surgery this week, but is recovering well and I think he is determined to be back home before Santa comes. Vicki and James maintain a blog, so I get to stay in the loop and be a blog-stalker. Anyway, onto the images….prepare for some cuteness!
by Jill
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