Shelby's NICU Grad Photo Shoot

Please enjoy Preemie Prints' families’ inspirational story & photos. 

Consider supporting our mission to share hope with families who have a baby born prematurely or critically ill. We thank our supporters, Preemie Prints volunteers, and donors for allowing us to continue touching the lives of NICU, preemie, and angel families.

We pray these special memories from Preemie Prints 

will help families heal and remember how strong 

they were in overcoming their NICU journey together.

A NICU STORY | THOUGHTS FROM MOM

“My daughter, Shelby Adeline, was born on April 20, 2015, at 25 weeks and 4 days, weighing 1 pound 3 ounces, and 11.5 inches long. She came early due to severe pre-eclampsia.

We were told before she was born that she was very sick and had less than 1% chance of survival. I had never been so devastated or terrified in my life. But, when she was delivered, and before she was put on the ventilator, she actually cried and tried to breath in her own. We knew that was a good sign. I had never imagined my baby could survive being so tiny. But survive, she did. She was given 3 rounds of surfactant before her lungs inflated, but that 3rd round did the trick. She was extubated on day 10 of life and placed in the cpap machine. She was on the cpap for 6 weeks before she was finally ready for the nasal cannula. We were very lucky that her only major issue was that her lungs needed to grow and mature. She never really gave us any major scares. After 98 days in the NICU, she was finally discharged on July 27, 2015. Doctors are not always right. They can't predict life. 

These babies want to be here with us and my daughter is proof that the tiniest preemies are tougher than you can imagine.”

A Note From Karina:

“Little Shelby was a delight! She gave us many facial expressions and even took a little milk brake during our session :) It's a blessing to photograph these tiny miracles, so little but super strong.“

Photos belong to our volunteer photographers, families, 

and organization please do not use for any purpose. 

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Preemie Prints is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sharing hope with NICU families through a variety of support programs. One of those programs is the gift of NICU photography and preemie photography. NICU families from across the US can request a no-charge photography session by a Preemie Prints volunteer. The family request from can be found on the right side of our website. These sessions are free of charge and for any NICU family, regardless of time spent in the NICU. The NICU photo shoot can take place inside the NICU or after baby is discharged and at home until their 1st birthday. Facing time in a NICU with a premature or critically ill baby is an extremely difficult time for families. Preemie Prints has a mission to share hope by letting families know they are not alone. Preemie Prints currently has over 100 volunteers nationwide. We are always looking for more volunteers to share in our mission! If you are interested, please email sherri@preemieprints.org and visit our website at www.preemieprints.org. To date Preemie Prints and our volunteers have gifted over 400 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near Sugar Land, TX.

We're thankful to the family for sharing their story & memories in support of other NICU families.