Monday, September 21, 2015

Sweet Maggie {a post in memory of Allison}





Meet Blake, Amy, and Maggie... This post has been a long time coming... I am not sure that I have the words to do this family justice, but I am going to try...

In April of 2014, I received a text from my friend, "my neighbor, her baby, her baby passed away...do you still volunteer for Now I lay Me Down to Sleep? I don't know how to help my friend, this is all I can think of..." (Amy is about 30 weeks pregnant with Allison Clair)

I volunteer with many other local photographers for NILMDTS and we go to the local hospitals to photograph babies who are born "still" (or pass in the NICU) with their families. These image become cherished memories for the families.
https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org

Because of Heather's text, I know to keep my camera bag with me...and the nurses then present the option of a NILMDTS photographer to Amy and Blake, they accept. All York photographers are notifiied, I accept and head in to York Hospital...

This family had no idea their friend has told me about them, and their story...
Meet Allison Clair 


I vividly remember Amy kissing Allison's feet..

Some months had passed...If I remember correctly, I friend requested Amy on Facebook. This is not normal for me, I normally don't have any connection to the families, but I knew Amy's friend Heather...

More time passed...I have an opportunity to hang Art Work in a high risk maternal fetal medicine doctor's office. I share my work with NILMDTS so they could know about these services...Dr. Bayliss wants images for a special room. I have 2 special mom's in mind<3

I reach out to Amy, she can't say YES fast enough...Here's the Art we worked on together for the office in Lancaster.


Now we have to meet, right? (I also want to give her the image to have for herself as well) This is the first person I have ever met that I have done a NILMDTS session for...We hug, we cry, she shows me how much the images mean to her...she shows me what she's been doing to give back to the community (Amazing<3 Check out the links below to see the charity's that have helped Amy and Blake so much!)

We've been talking for a bit, she's a little hot, and unbuttons her jacket...and there it is...a little baby bump!!! She confesses, that they aren't sharing yet, she's just over half way, but she is scared and nervous! A few weeks later they announce they are indeed expecting again, and another precious girl<3

A Rainbow Baby is a baby who is born after the loss of another baby...the Rainbow after the Storm...
Introducing Maggie Rose




The bear in the images is the 
exact weight of 
Allison 2 lb 10.2 oz. 
And made by: Molly Bears

Molly Bears:    http://mollybears.com/
"This is where we got our Allison bear. It is a weighted bear  that is the exact weight a persons baby was. Cost just $20 and that includes shipping. There is a wait list but for us, a complete stranger bought what is called a fast pass and paid to have ours made and sent to us faster. I absolutely love our Molly bear. Every loss mom I know has one."~Amy

The Smallest Gift: http://www.thesmallestgift.org/
"This is a more local organization but provides for loss parents all over the country. They send for free weighted hearts (weight of baby) and blankets with the baby's name and date of birth and a saying on it. I actually went to high school with the one founder of this organization. It is an amazing organization. All the items are hand made and they work on donations. After Allison dies, I would lay on the couch and sleep with this blanket and my husband would hold the weighted heart."~Amy

Held your Whole Life: http://www.heldyourwholelife.com/
"They make and send, for only $3.00 each (I think that is still the price) keychains for men and necklaces for women."~Amy

The Queen B Project: http://queenbproject.com/
Amy is on the Board for the Queen B project
"We make and give comfort bags to local hospitals and provide education to hospitals. Also plan to purchase one cuddle cot each year for hospitals in PA.  We work on donations as well and have fundraisers all the time.~Amy

Sweet Grace Ministries: http://sweetgraceministries.com/
"They provide beautiful baskets filled with items for grieving families to local hospitals. Also offer local support groups in Chambersburg, Harrisburg and will be starting one up in York very soon. Have online support groups as well."~Amy