Friday

Giving Back with NILMDTS

We are so blessed to have the opportunity to live out our dreams! I've never heard anyone say, 'Oh I just sort of got stuck doing this.' We love what we do and we're passionate about it! And with that (I hope) we also want to use the talents we've been given to share love, hope and healing with others.

I don't know that there is any better organization for photographers when it comes to an opportunity to offer a gateway to profound healing then that of Now I lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS).

I'm very excited to really dive into more about this organization! Sandy Puc, co-founder of NILMDTS will be helping me do just that but for today... Inspire Me Friday, I'll leave you with this video and hope it will plant a seed. 

If you are a member please leave a comment and share your feelings, if you have questions about becoming a volunteer for NILMDTS - I would love for you to ask them in the comments so that I, another member or Sandy can help answer them.

*Just an FYI - I will be out of town this weekend and will not be answering emails until Wednesday. :)

10 comments:

  1. I could go on and on about NILMDTS, but I will try to keep it short. I became a volunteer under a year ago. For those hesitant to sign up because they don't think they can handle the emotions, that is a natural feeling to have. I don't think any volunteers go into it completely confident. You will receive instruction and can even shadow a shoot to help you prepare. I kept repeating to myself before my first NILMDTS shoot, "I can do hard things." However, the best advice I received came from Jodie who recounts one of her experiences here- http://www.jodifiedblog.com/2009/04/nilmdts/. She reminded me that it is not about me. It is about the family. I pray a lot before I walk into the room that I can be an instrument in God's hands in providing the family with something tangible to add to their memories of the all too brief time that they spend on earth with their little one. I feel really blessed to witness the immense love and peace that surrounds these special little ones.

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  2. I've known about this organization for YEARS now, but still haven't done anything about it. Just like Clair mentioned, it's a scary thing to leap into. I wanted to make sure that my craft was to where I should be to capture these precious moments. Watching that video has helped me (and reading Clair's comment--thank you!) get the kick I need to really do this. I'm clicking on the website now.

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  3. NILMDTS is one of the reasons I want to be a photographer. However being that I am just starting out and have a lot to learn, I don't believe I qualify and that's a shame because I truly feel this is something I so want to do and feel limited by the opportunity since I do not yet have "established clients". So as I start my business I am donating a percentage to breast cancer since I personally was diagnoised in October. I feel my calling is to do volunteer work and NILMDTS is for sure a goal of mine. I just hope I get an opportunity. What a blessing that would be.

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  4. NILMDTS has always been something that has so touched my heart as soon as I heard about it. If (NO! WHEN) I get to the point where I qualify, I will volunteer. Until then, I've done my best to spread the word. Every Mother's Day, I make grieving boxes for the hospital that I was blessed to give birth to a healthy baby girl. Granted, last year was the first time I was able to do it, but I plan to continue. In that meeting with the donations lady, I gave her information that she didn't have. I hope that this year they will have remembered it and never had to use it.

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  5. I have read on this wonderful organization and can't think of a more beautiful and selfless thing to do.
    However, I agree with the two previous comments. Being extremely new to the world of photography I know and fear that my capabilities are too limited at this point to be able to give these grieving families the high quality pictures that they need and deserve. As I work on creating my website I am going to make sure there is a link for NILMDTS. I also work in OBGYN and have the unique opportunity to make sure this service is offered at the major hospitals in the city I live in.
    Thank you for sharing this information!

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  6. Oh my gosh. I am a blubbering mess. A friend of mine lost her daughter in the last 2 days of her pregnancy and had something similar to this done. This is something I want to be a part of, this is a goal I can strive for, if I can be emotionally stable enough to handle it. Thank you for sharing this Leah.

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  7. Thank you so much, Leah, for making us aware that there is a need for this and that there is an organization to help families grieving a horrible loss such as losing a brand new baby. How awful it must be! I, too am much too much of a new photographer to be of reliable assistance to these families, but someday when I am, I will offer my services. In the mean time, like Amy, I too will ensure there is a link on my blog directly to NILMDTS to help raise awareness for people who have not ever heard that such help was available.

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  8. I too could go on and on about NILMDTS, but I won't. I will simply say that becoming a photographer with this wonderful organization has been a defining thing for myself as a human being. It is not very often that we get chances to work with angels in everyday life, and I feel incredibly blessed to be able to meet and hold and photograph these precious little spirits.

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  9. I want to become a member now!!!!!

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  10. I am a digital retouch artist for NILMDTS and am so honored that I get to be a part of the organization.

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