New Preemie Prints Photography Volunteer, Melissa

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

Melissa Kirk

Melissa Kirk Photography

www.facebook.com/melissakirkphotographyTX

melissakirkphotography@gmail.com

Service Area: Austin

Hospitals: Cedar Park Hospital, St. David's North Austin, Seton Hospital on 183 & Duval

About Melissa:
“Hello! My name is Melissa Kirk and I am primarily a portrait and family photographer. I believe every little bit of life is worth celebrating — from the everyday to the extraordinary. I love to capture real moments between you and your family so that they can be celebrated for a lifetime, images that will tug at your heart, to bring tears to your eyes and reflect how beautiful and wonderful your family is. I have been interested in photography since I was a child, and have photographed professionally for the past 4 years. Volunteering for children, especially preemies, will be extremely rewarding for me in a personal sense, and for the families I can help. With two young sons myself, I understand the importance of capturing moments that you soon forget.”

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.

NICU Grad Session: Elijah

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 ELIJAH'S FAMILY 

Although our NICU journey has not been a very long one, it is extremely difficult leaving the hospital knowing that you gave birth to a baby that is really fighting for their life. Every time I kissed him goodnight before I went home, my stomach was in knots and a sinking feeling overcame me. I found strength in my faith and the support from my husband and other family, but mostly I found strength in watching the NICU nurses care for my son. The way they spoke to him and how they would speak about him put my mind at ease. They took such great care of my son and my husband and I as well; with all of our inquiries and any issues we had.

 

Elijah's photo session was taken and donated by Preemie Prints volunteer photographer, Brian C. Parks.

A Note From Brian:

Eli was a joy to shoot. Instantly at ease around me, he had no problem hamming it up for the camera (it was hard to keep him at arm's length just to get his photo!). A real champ all the way through the shoot, he took me on a tour of his living room, kitchen, patio, and backyard before we were through. I was exhausted! 

Then it was on to the smash cake! Mom and Dad had the foresight to use a giant red sheet under the cake, and Eli didn't waste any time poking around the icing. It took him awhile to discover there was cake buried under there, but when he did it was hard to keep him away, burying his whole face in the cake in lieu of using his fingers. Before long, he had the entire sheet (and himself) covered in yummy icing! : )

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 500 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near Bryan/College Station. 

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

William and Ethan's NICU Grad Session

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 WILLIAM AND ETHANS' FAMILY

We spent 109 days in the NICU. It was an amazing journey full of great stress, but also unexpected blessings. We are very thankful to the doctors and nurses at the Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, NY. 

William and Ethans' photo session was taken and donated by Preemie Prints volunteer photographer, Jennifer Sternal-Johnson.

https://www.facebook.com/blackbirdfamilyphotography

A Note From Jen:

William and Ethan are about to turn 1, and they had so much personality! Loved spending an afternoon in Highland Park with them.

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 form 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 1000 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.

NICU Grad Session: Wyatt

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 WYATT'S FAMILY 

Wyatt was born early at 34 weeks 5 days and admitted into the NICU for breathing/lung issues. Wyatt is now perfectly healthy! (:

 

Wyatt's photo session was taken and donated by Preemie Prints volunteer photographer, Brian C. Parks.

A Note From Brian:

When Wyatt's mom suggested shooting out on a baseball field, I thought "Sure! What could go wrong with that?" Little did I know that less than 15 seconds into the shoot, the little tyke had a mouthful of orange gravel! It was a bit of a process, but mom and dad were able to keep Wyatt's little hands out of the dirt long enough to get some great shots.

Then it was on to the smash cake! Wyatt took to the cake like a pro right off the bat and hardly gave me time to get a shot of the cake by itself before diving in! He tore the whole thing apart in about five minutes time (though I still think he liked the gravel better). ; )

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 500 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near Bryan/College Station. 

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

Skylar and Landon's NICU Grad Session

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 SKYLAR AND LANDON'S FAMILY

Our twins were born 14 weeks early, weighing 1'15oz (Skylar) and 2'3oz (Landon). Our daughter, Skylar, had been diagnosed with a mass on her left lung in utero, and it was a major concern when she was born. She was on a special ventilator (jetted vent) for the first month and we were not able to hold her until she came off that ventilator and was placed on a regular vent. Landon was also on a ventilator. They spent about 3 months in the NICU. Landon went home in late August and Skylar came home about 2 weeks later. Skylar had to have surgery in early December to remove the mass. Prior to the surgery, she was doing amazing, but she had a lot of trouble with breathing after the surgery and was in the hospital for 6 weeks. She has been on oxygen since the surgery, but in recent weeks has been needing lower amounts, and we hope to get her off the oxygen soon.

Skylar and Landon's photo session was taken and donated by Preemie Prints volunteer photographer, Jennifer Sternal-Johnson.

https://www.facebook.com/blackbirdfamilyphotography

A Note From Jen:

Skylar and Landon have had a rough time, but as they near their first birthday, it seems that things are getting a little smoother! We spent a lovely morning at Seneca Lake together for our photo session.

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 form 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.

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.

Chase and Tucker's NICU Session

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 CHASE AND TUCKER'S FAMILY

I had always planned on my twins being at Strong Hospital. I just didn't know it would be so soon: 27 weeks. I thought I would have had a perfect pregnancy and my twins would have been the perfect weight and height. I ended up going to Thompson hospital at 3am with what I thought was Braxton Hicks contractions.. Little did I know I was 4cm dilated and my baby boy Tucker was trying to get out. I ended up having an emergency c-section 20 minutes later when my doctor arrived. I thought the boys would be here before Strong's NICU arrived. I was so scared and so worried; it was every mothers worst fear and it happened in a blink of an eye. Then my doctor started to make the cut, accessed my uterus, and as that was happening Strong's NICU transportation team scrubbed in just in time. There were 8 people per child; my room was packed. Then they pulled little Tucker out and 2 minutes later Chase. Chase came out kicking and screaming. Then I waited what seemed like forever to hear Tucker. Finally, he screamed and I cried with joy knowing everything was going to be OK. As this happened my doctor sang Happy Birthday to each boy and everyone joined in. It was the most memorable experience of my life. When I was in recovery I was told they would bring in my twins, but I probably couldn't touch them. They brought the boys in with the incubators open. They told me I could touch them and it made me so happy. I got a minute with each of them, then they went off to Strong Memorial Hospital without me. Broke my heart and that was the longest 36 hours of my life. Thompson tried everything in their power to get me to Strong. Then they just released me early. I've been at Strong everyday since. I'm so glad they saved my boys and I'm so happy to be a new mommy. I still have a long way to go, but I'm thankful for this place and for my two little boys.

Chase and Tucker's photo session was taken and donated by Preemie Prints volunteer photographer, Jennifer Sternal-Johnson.

https://www.facebook.com/blackbirdfamilyphotography

A Note From Jen:

As a twin preemie mom myself, I treasure the first photos that we were able to take with all of us together, at about 1 month old. Tucker and Chase are 27 week preemies and I was lucky enough to share that moment with their 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 form 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.

This was a Preemie Prints NICU 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.

Harper's Preemie Prints NICU Photo Session

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
“It all started when we found out we were going to have a little girl. We had big plans that day. But it all fell apart very quickly.  We were living in Asheville North Carolina. They told us that she had all these conditions that wouldn't let her survive but a month at most.  Made us sign abortion papers. Which we had no intent on doing so.  We decide to have other test ran.  It came back that she had a condition called BWS -  it's an over or undergrowth disorder. She also has an omphalocele. We knew that we had a long road ahead. We met with surgeons and doctors and did all the research we could. We were told that we would spend at least 5-6 months in the NICU.  So we had decided to look for a house in Farewell, VA to bring her home to when she was able.  We ended up getting my Great Grandmother’s farm house. The plan was for us to get a bit settled and do some remodeling and for me to deliver in Asheville.  We had unpacked and remodeled our bedroom and were about to start doing the nursery.  I slept in our new room for a night.  Then the next night I'd went to bed not feeling so good.  I woke up not even 2 hours later cramping and hurting.  I’d walk it off and try to lay back down.  It started to get worse as the hours passed so I called my doctor back in Asheville. They told me to rest drink water take some Tylenol and take a shower. If that didn't work to go to the hospital.  So I did as I was told and was looking for the closest hospital that could deliver if need be. But I thought I was just having Braxton Hicks. After my shower I could hardly walk.  So we headed to Bluefield West Virginia ( the closest hospital to deliver) 45 minutes away. By the time we got there I could tell something wasn't right.  What I thought was Braxton Hicks was actually contractions and they were 2 minutes apart.  I kept telling the lady at the we desk something wasn't right I needed to be seen that I was high risk.  But she didn't push it too much. I sat in the waiting room for 45 minutes. By the time I was wheeled up stairs and trying to explain what was going on they were one minute apart. When the doctor came in to see me they hooked my belly on the monitors and she checked to see if I was dilated. And I was 8 cm. I was hysterical. I was going to plan my C-section is Asheville in 2 days. But Harper had a different idea. Everything went crazy. Harper's dad was trying to coach the docs because they hadn't seen anything like this before. And I was trying to answer all the questions the 30 people around me had. They finally got a C-section time there and Harper came at 1pm. She then had to be rushed to Roanoke memorial with her dad.  I could not go and only got to see her for maybe 5 minutes before they had left. I finally got to meet our little princess the next night. I felt as if it was all a nightmare with everything that was going on. All I could think about was her getting better and coming home.  I had my doubts and lots of tears.  But as the time continues to go I realize this is where she needs to be to get better and come home to us. It has been a long journey so far. But we have to keep faith and continue to keep it together. I know it's one of the hardest things to do. And I have a greater respect for the people and parents that go through this all. It makes us stronger. And at the end of the day when you get to walk out those doors it will be the greatest feeling in the world. And that's what keeps me going. I can't wait for that day!”

Harper’s photo session was taken and donated by Preemie Prints volunteer photographer, Ashley Parker.

www.ashleyparkerphoto.com

A Note From Ashley:

"Ashley & Gordon were the sweetest couple and I had such a wonderful time working with them. Its obvious how much they absolutely love and adore their precious baby girl. Baby Harper was precious and full of smiles for me! I am so thankful for Preemie Prints and the opportunity to meet this 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 400 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU photography session that took place near Roanoke, VA.

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