I'm feeling sad this evening. It's been a fun day, but an emotionally draining one, too. We started the day bright and early with a maternity photo session (love those beautiful baby bellies!), and then I attended a lovely baby shower and enjoyed some great time with some wonderful ladies. Then Ken and I were called for a NILMDTS photo session.
Every NILMDTS session is so different. There is no "normal" or "usual." We've served families of different religions, families from other countries, and families who don't speak English. We've photographed living babies as well as recently passed babies. We've been there as life support was turned off. Every circumstance for every baby and every family is so unique and different. Today was the most personally involved I've ever felt, for several reasons, I guess. Partly because Mom was very talkative, very open about what she was feeling; because this was a situation where one twin lived and one did not, Mom's emotions were all over the place. Unspeakable pain and immense joy, all in the space of just a few moments. With one child she'll experience all those firsts, and the other child will always be in her thoughts as she watches the surviving twin reach each new milestone.
Depending on the condition of the baby, sometimes they can't be moved much, especially if they are hooked up to machines and tubes. But sometimes we handle the baby a great deal, and today was one of those days. Holding that sweet child in my arms made it much more personal, too...
Due to the circumstances today, we met the surviving sister even before her mom or dad met her. We photographed both sisters together in the NICU. The only photos they'll ever have together. Such beautiful girls, both with a full head of hair. The one that went to heaven today had hair much like my Kathryn did when she was born. Feeling that soft hair as I put on her little bonnet affected me more than anything else today--thinking of holding my own sweet newborn girl eight years ago.
Please pray for this family, and pray that Sister thrives and gets to go home with her mommy and daddy soon.
Every NILMDTS session is so different. There is no "normal" or "usual." We've served families of different religions, families from other countries, and families who don't speak English. We've photographed living babies as well as recently passed babies. We've been there as life support was turned off. Every circumstance for every baby and every family is so unique and different. Today was the most personally involved I've ever felt, for several reasons, I guess. Partly because Mom was very talkative, very open about what she was feeling; because this was a situation where one twin lived and one did not, Mom's emotions were all over the place. Unspeakable pain and immense joy, all in the space of just a few moments. With one child she'll experience all those firsts, and the other child will always be in her thoughts as she watches the surviving twin reach each new milestone.
Depending on the condition of the baby, sometimes they can't be moved much, especially if they are hooked up to machines and tubes. But sometimes we handle the baby a great deal, and today was one of those days. Holding that sweet child in my arms made it much more personal, too...
Due to the circumstances today, we met the surviving sister even before her mom or dad met her. We photographed both sisters together in the NICU. The only photos they'll ever have together. Such beautiful girls, both with a full head of hair. The one that went to heaven today had hair much like my Kathryn did when she was born. Feeling that soft hair as I put on her little bonnet affected me more than anything else today--thinking of holding my own sweet newborn girl eight years ago.
Please pray for this family, and pray that Sister thrives and gets to go home with her mommy and daddy soon.
