Well you could have knocked me over with a feather when I received the most amazing message just the other day. It was from a family I met whilst volunteering for Heartfelt. I photographed the most darling little girl only a week or 2 old who was incredibly ill. Each day they had with her was a blessing. (This story has been shared with the expressed permission from the family)
Here is the message I received from her Mum;
Hi Anita
Not sure if u remember photographing our daughter in the WCH PICU back in early feb 2015?? She would have been around 1.5 to 2 weeks old.
Just letting you all know she pulled through and is going to be 1 on the 23rd of January!!!!!!
She is our little miracle. Still very little for her age but shes alive and happy with our family. She was in hospital for 157 days and 2 weeks in melbourne for open heart surgery. She had the nasal gastric tube taken out in November so on all bottle and solid feeds. Still on 4 heart meds and more heart surgery in coming time.
I look back on the photos and cant believe how incredibly lucky we are. I cant thank yourself and the Heartfelt team enough for all that you do. Your compassion, love and care for so many families in a time of need xxx
Were the lucky ones who can put our photos aside and create new happy ones xxxxx
Thankyou again from the bottom of our hearts xxx
Miracles do happen!!!!!!
Thankyou again xx
She is one highly spirited cheeky little girl xxx
Well of course I remember her and I am so beyond thrilled to hear she is turning one. What an incredible thing to celebrate!
For those who have not heard of heartfelt, it is an organisation supported by photographers who volunteer their time to photograph children who are critically or terminally ill, premature babies and still births, providing beautiful photos to remember these precious children.
I first heard about this organisation about 5 years ago but as much as I wanted to be a part of it, I just didn’t feel I would cope emotionally. Over the years, I met more and more people who were part of it and wished I could do what they do.
Then one day I had a client who was booked in for a newborn session contact me to let me know they had suffered the most unimaginable loss, still born at 21 weeks. In an instant, I offered to come and photograph their child during the time they could spend with her. Not even for a second did I think about how I would cope, what I would say, what it would be like. I just knew I needed to do it for them and in that instant, I knew I was finally ready. It was no longer about me and how I would cope. It was about the families and how I could help them cope. These photos make it real, not just a blur of events so brief in time. They keep the memory recorded so they can reflect back on that time and the child when they want to, rather than replaying it over and over in their mind each day for fear of forgetting any details. For some it allows them to share with those around them a little insight into what their family has been through.
For more information or to make a donation to help provide the beautifully packaged printed parcels these families receive please head to http://www.heartfelt.org.au