Welcome New Photography Volunteer, Julie!

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

Julie Cole
Julie Cole Photography
http://juliecole.portfoliobox.me
julsmbc@yahoo.com

Service Area: Northern Virginia

Hospitals: Sibley Memorial Hospital, DC & Inova Fairfax Hospital, Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington VA

About Julie:

“I have two healthy active boys. They make me feel blessed and I would like to give back.”

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.

Preemie Mom Share!

"I had my daughter at 35 weeks to the day and actually had her at HOME unplanned and my mother delivered her first grandchild with NO help whatsoever (no she's not a nurse or anything medical field)! 

I was scared honestly .. In labor for 24 hours and I called hospital and they told me I was constipated, so I toughed it out but couldn't sleep whatsoever all night long. I basically lived in the bath tub that night. Then 10 am came around, and I called my mom she was at work she works 3rd, shift 11pm to 11am. I told her "MOM THE HEADS OUT HURRY PLEASE"! AND she rushed home beating the ambulance here and that's when she delieverd her. She said omg I can't do it, can't do it. And look she did it!!! She weighed 4 lbs 4.5 oz and was in hospital for 7 days..and was completely happy and healthy. 

Now she's 6 months old and weighs 15 lbs she was born July 24 2014. This honestly was the scariest day of my life but yet the most rewarding. I honestly didn't have time to be scared but it all happened and here we are today with a amazing baby girl named Lyndsey Mae."

Share your miracle's story... Message our facebook page! Your words are encouraging to other parents facing an early birth. Part of our mission is to share as many preemie and NICU stories as we can. Thank you. www.facebook.com/preemieprints 

www.preemieprints.org

Welcome New Photography Volunteer, Aileen!

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

Aileen Rios-Castillo
Images by Aileen
www.imagesbyaileen.com
imagesbyaileen@gmail.com

Service Area: Hartford County

Hospitals: St. Frances, Hartford Hospital, Children's Hospital Hartford, Manchester Hospital, Vernon/Rockville Hospital, UConn Medical Center, New Britain General Hospital

About Aileen:

“Recently I was asked by a friend to photograph her baby (preemie) at the hospital. I fell in love with the baby instantly! I love babies. I had difficulty conceiving, but was able to birth two wonderful boys who are young men now. I am very friendly, compassionate and always willing to donate my photography services to a great cause!”

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.

Little Andrew'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 little miracle Andrew was born at 27 weeks 6 days via emergency c section due to placenta abruption. He weighted only 1 pound 7 oz and was 33.5 centimeters long. The day he was born I was happy he was alive and at the same time I had mixed emotions. I was devastated, confused, lost, and felt guilt. What had happen? What did I do? I felt no one understood me. My support was my family and all the NICU staff and doctors, which I am thankful every day of my life. My life completely changed from that day forward. NICU life was not easy; it was always a step forward yet sometimes a step backward. At times I felt my little one would not make it after doctors found he had PDA and felt my world coming down on me. There were days his machine would go off losing all vital signs and it’s a feeling hard to explain how I felt. I felt a piece of me being taken away as I could not hold him. He was so tiny so fragile I was only allowed to touch him through his incubator. My only choice was to trust in God and hold on to hope, and faith. A month later they had to close his PDA. I started seeing light as my baby was more stabled. The first time I was able to carry him was on Feb. 14, 2014 for 30 minutes only but It was worth it and was the happiest day of my life. As days, weeks and months passed he was doing better and making progress. Even though he would go a step back he always managed to keep going forward. Then the day came he beat the odds and after 4 months in NICU he finally got off his oxygen and all the other machines. He was finally able to come home on May 10th for Mother’s Day. NICU journey is not easy but worth it. There is light at the end of the tunnel. God works in mysterious ways☺”

A Note From Erin:

“It is such a privilege to be welcome into someone's home and get a glimpse into their lives. It is also my favorite place to photograph because it is the place people, especially children, are their most authentic. Baby Angel was no exception. This little one was a micro-preemie under 2 pounds at birth. Today he is a thriving 1 year old. Angel is full of smiles, fueled by the love of his mom and grandma. Those two women adore him! I am so glad I had a chance to meet them and document all the growth, love, hopes and dreams residing in 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 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.