Sweet Kolten's NICU 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

“Kolten Charles was born on September 2, 2015 at only 28 weeks gestation. He was 3lbs 7ozs and 15 1/2 inches at birth. Kolten had to be intubated due to immaturity of his lungs and then care flighted 130 miles from home to Cook Children's Medical Center to receive the best possible care.

We were so excited to be given the opportunity to be parents again. After 8 years of trying and two devastating miscarriages, we were having our rainbow baby. Every single week was such an accomplishment and every Saturday we would celebrate another week closer to meeting our baby boy. Then on September 2, 2015, very early in the morning, mom started having contractions. A trip to labor and delivery showed dehydration to be the cause and we were sent home. Our monthly doctor's appointment was that same afternoon and she determined that Mom was still dehydrated and sent us home to rest and drink. 2 hours later the contractions had become unbearable and were 3-4 minutes apart so off we went back to labor and delivery. Upon arriving Mom was checked by the nurses and the whirlwind began. Mom was dilated to a 9 and baby boy was breech so we were rushed to the operating room for an emergency C-section. Kolten was on his way into this world tonight!

At 7:13 pm, Kolten was delivered and weighed an amazing 3 lbs 7 ozs! Unfortunately, he could not breathe on his own and after 6 tries was successfully intubated. Kolten's pediatrician made the call to have him transferred to a level 4 NICU, 130 miles from home. So not even an hour old and Kolten was getting to go on his first helicopter ride.

We have currently been in the NICU for 42 days and Kolten has fought past every single obstacle that should have stood in his way. At 12 hours old, Kolten came off the ventilator, to bubble C-pap which he stayed on until 33 weeks. At one week, Kolten was diagnosed with a level 1 brain bleed that at his 6 week follow up is now non-existent. He started controlling his own temp in an open bed at 33 weeks as well as starting non-nutritive breast feeding. At 34 weeks, Kolten is doing a great job with his bottle feeds and is slowly working to get rid of the feed tube. We have been so very blessed to be where we are and to have these amazing doctors and nurses here to take care of our little Superman. We are looking forward to our next big journey, which will take us all home to be a family”

A Note From Amanda:

“I couldn't have asked for a better family for my first preemie prints session. Kolten was so sweet. Not a peep, even with us posing him.”

Photos belong to our volunteer photographers, families, 

and organization please do not use for any purpose. 

____________________________________________

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  photography session that took place near Fort Worth, TX.

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