Welcome New Photography Volunteer, Hillary!

Please help us welcome volunteer photographer, Hillary! She will be helping give the gift of NICU photography to preemie and NICU families in New York!

Hillary Geiger
H. Geiger Photography
hgeigerphotography.foliohd.com
geigerhillary@yahoo.com

Service Area: Long Island, NY

Hospitals: Stony Brook Medical Center

About Hillary:

"My goal is to give back to families and spread awareness, as well as to challenge myself. I do newborn photography as well as other avenues of commercial portrait photography. But a current course has challenged me to test myself and my boundaries."

www.preemieprints.org

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 500 NICU family sessions.

Brave Cooper - A NICU Grad

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

Cooper Dale Brodner was born on 3/4/15 at 5 lbs 9 oz, 3 weeks early. While 37 weeks may be considered full term for Cooper, we discovered his esophagus was not connected to his stomach. Surgery took place the next day to repair.

WE had no idea the journey we were about to embark on when Cooper came into this world. All along we were having a really healthy pregnancy with some minor issue but nothing to cause major concern. We went to the ED for a non stress test since I had felt little movement during the day. Next thing I knew we were going to be delivering our baby because there was no movement at all. Cooper cam out crying but really bruised which prompted his to get a work up at the NICU. There they learned that his esophagus was not connected to his stomach and surgery was required to connect. the surgeons and NICU staff were all incredible and 18 days after we delivered we were headed home. COoper is now 10 months and while he is doing excellent the experience of being in the NICU has hit me as a parent the hardest most recently. Something as simple as the smell of hand sanitizer can bring me right back to being there and the roller coaster pf emotions can come flooding back. As time goes on it become easier to deal with but just as much of a traumatic experience it is for our babies....it is for us as well. I have found healing through talking about it more. Being A NICU parent is like being in a club you never asked to join but our babies are warriors and everyday I appreciate a bit more from the last knowing he continues to get stronger and healthier each day

Volunteer Photographer: 

Jen Sternal-Johnson, Blackbird Photography

A Note from Jen: 

Cooper was born at 37 weeks with a tracheoesophageal fistula, which was surgically corrected at 1 day old. He spent 18 days in the NICU before joining his family at home. Now he's 10 months old and loves eating--including my photo props! Such a fun kiddo to work with. Best wishes to this little family!

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 600 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near Rochester, NY.

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

A Tiny Miracle - 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

My daughter Gabriella was born on December 26th 2015 at 4:34 pm. She was 23 weeks and weighed 1pound 3ounzes. Her due date was April 23rd 2016. When she started to come into this world she tried to come in feet first. They immediately rushed me for an emergency c-section. She's known on the floor for being fiesty and spicy. She's 3 weeks old today.

Gabriella's journey just in the 3 weeks we have been here has not been easy. She has her good days and with the good is also some bad. It was hard at first seeing Her in her incubator with tubes and wires. However the first time she opened her eyes It made it easier. Seeing her grow and change right in front of my eyes is amazing and scary. Our journey has just begun and we still have a long way to go but with faith and hope I know we will get through this. 

Volunteer Photographer: 

Jen Sternal-Johnson, Blackbird Photography

A Note from Jen: 

Gabriella is the tiniest preemie I've worked with, born at 23 weeks, 2 days.  Now she's a month old and almost 2 pounds!  She still has a long fight in front of her, so I am hoping and praying and sending my best wishes to this family. It was an honor to be invited in and I hope to work with Gabriella again soon!

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 600 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near Rochester, NY.

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

March News, Updates, and Prayer Requests

The VIRTUAL IUGR Awareness Day Walk was a great success! Visit their page to learn more about what they are doing and to see pictures from the walk! We are so blessed to be the partner charity in 2016. Thank you IUGR for all that you do to raise awareness and support families across the nation. 

...

Kelsey is a former 24 weeker and surviving twin. For her senior project she chose to sew 300 skin to skin hearts for Preemie Prints and NICU babies. Today she went by the Texas Health NICU in Denton with her Mom and Grandma to drop them off. There were lots of hugs and tears as she shared her story of strength and determination. Kelsey is a 4.0 student and tomorrow will compete at a National level dance competition! We hope her story can inspire you and bring you a little hope today. Thank you Kelsey and good luck!!

Donation drop off at S&W NICU in College Station: We donated 8 angel giraffes, 25 gift bundles, including special St. Patricks Day giraffes, 3 cuddler beds, and 20 positioners! These items will help the NICU staff & bring comfort to their NICU families! Thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to help.

We're always thankful to have our Starlight Volunteers ready and willing to help! Below are three little NICU graduates who like to come and help too! 

Wedding dress donation for our angel giraffes. 

Both of these ladies completed their 1st sewing project with us. Great job!

Sewing instruction

PRAYER REQUEST:

Please pray with us for these special requests:

"Our little granddaughter Austyn was born 13 weeks early. Please join us in praying for her to be healthy and grow and develop normally. Specifically right now we need her little heart to heal. She is a fighter and I believe God has great plans for her. Please also pray for her parents to be strong. Thank you"

 "Please I beg of you, pray for my twin nieces who are currently in NICU, born at 23 weeks, weighing one pound. Amaya is battling with lung issues, and we need all of the prayers we can get. God please place you healing hands on my nieces. In jesus name, Amen."

NICU Grad Photo Shoot: Xander!

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

Our son Xander came at 24 weeks, 5 days. I was having some pains thinking I was going to have to have to have my gallbladder removed and spent all day in the ER, they decided nothing was wrong with my gallbladder but my bp kept going up and my platelets count was dropping. Unfortunately for me I always suffered from protein in my urine and headaches so it was hard for them to diagnosis me with HELPP syndrome right away ( a form of preeclampsia). They wanted to keep an eye on me so they checked me in. At 11pm they decided they were going to do an emergency c-section and our little hero was born at 15 ounces. After 6 minutes of resuscitation on Xander they were finally able to bring him into the NICU. The doctor said to my husband usually she would stop after a few minutes but he was responding to everything so they were going to keep going. I didn't get to see him until the next day.  We were in the NICU for 120 long days sometimes the medicine will work, sometimes it will make it worse. I know that is scary to say but it is true. Our son was born with a small brain bleed on one side and a PDA, they gave him medicine to close the PDA and it made the brain bleed worse and caused another one to form on the other side. So we had to go to heart surgery. Before they did the heart surgery he was air lifted him to another hospital and at that hospital for five long days those doctors decided the best course of treatment was to withhold breastmilk or formula only giving him tpn and any other sustenance he needed for survival. They were hoping he would "dry up" and the hole would close on it's own. I can't tell you how hard it is watching your already tiny son get smaller and smaller. Everyday you ask how much does he weigh today hoping he gained a few grams, one day he would but they would say it is probably water weight. This is the hardest thing you will ever do but it is the best thing too. Remember to take breaks it is ok, I know you will feel guilty for not going in one day but call on them to see how they are. It doesn't make you an awful parent for not going in one or two days sometimes you have to destress so you don't get sick because then you will be out even longer. And please if you do feel like you might be getting sick don't risk going in. And remember to be your child's advocate. I remember asking when we were going to start breastfeeding or bottle feeding and the doctor said we normally don't start that until 32 weeks. I said ok, well he was 34 weeks. And she said, oh let's wait a little longer. (he was only about 3 lbs at that point so they tended to forget how old he was but i knew he was ready) so I waited until the next doctor was on staff and asked him and he ordered it and guess what?!? He latched on right away!! He was ready!! Mommy knows best, remember that!!! So if you feel like something isn't right, speak up. If you don't like a nurse, talk to the charge nurse or a doctor. They are there to take care of your baby, you need to feel comfortable with them too.

A Note From Erin

I had such a great time with this family. It is clear that they both adore their little one. Xander is doing amazing things and has come so far. During our session his dad brought out a box of butter and explained that they nicknamed Xander "Butter" because he was the size of a butter box when he was born. He is crawling, laughing, interacting and practically ripping books out of his moms hands, he is so excited to learn and grow. He has overcome so much and I know with the love and support of his family he will do big things

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 600 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near Los Angeles, CA.

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

A Beautiful Angel

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.

.....

We are so honored to be able to give this family the gift of photography. Their beautiful baby girl is now an angel in heaven watching over them. 

A Note From Jen:

Bailey was born January 1, and passed away February 13. Sometimes a family comes along that touches your heart-- this family showed incredible strength in their sadness and grief. It was an honor to work with Bailey and her family during such a sensitive time. I'm so grateful for the chance to have met this sweet, beautiful girl before she passed. I cannot imagine the pain her parents feel, but I hope that having these images helps in some small way. 

-- Jen

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 graduate photography session that took place near Rochester, NY.

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