Today we’d like to introduce you to Renae Carr, Gina Harris and Alison Furtwangler of NILMDTS.
Renae, Gina, and Alison, please share your story with us.
A friend posted a story about NILMDTS and said they needed volunteers. Because of the health challenges, my children have had, I always felt grateful for their lives. I thought this would be a good way to pay it forward. I have been volunteering for about 10 years and have served almost 270 families.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Absolutely no. It is a very challenging and emotional journey. I have had a few times where I have had to take a break from sessions. But, I always seem to find the reward greater than the challenge.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about NILMDTS Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep – what should we know?
Mission
To introduce remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby with a free gift of professional portraiture.
Our Work
NILMDTS trains, educates, and mobilizes professional quality photographers to provide beautiful heirloom portraits to families facing the untimely death of an infant. We believe these images serve as an important step in the family’s healing process by honoring the child’s legacy.
History
Maddux Achilles Haggard was born on Feb. 4, 2005, with a condition called myotubular myopathy. It prevented him from breathing, swallowing or moving on his own. On the sixth day of his young life, his parents, Mike and Cheryl Haggard had to make the excruciating decision to take him off life support. Before they did, they called photographer Sandy Puc’ to take black and white portraits of them cradling their son. Puc’ photographed the couple with Maddux at the hospital before he was removed from life support and after — when he was free from the tubes and the wires that had sustained him.
“That night was the worst night of my life. But when I look at the images, I am not reminded of my worst night. I’m reminded of the beauty and blessings he brought.”
Cheryl Haggard, Maddux’s mother and co-founder of NILMDTS
Those tender photographs documenting Maddux’s eternal connection with his parents inspired Cheryl Haggard and Sandy Puc’ to begin a nonprofit organization that has provided thousands of families of babies who are stillborn or are at risk of dying as newborns with free professional portraits with their baby.
Sandy and Cheryl founded the organization in April 2005 and called it: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) after the children’s bedtime prayer.
Reach
NILMDTS has over 1,700 active photographers around the world. NILMDTS reaches every state in the United States and has been or is present in 40 countries worldwide.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Shelly Chetty was a wonderful supporter and cheerleader. We always reminded each other of the importance of this job and who we were doing it for! I have also had some families who have been wonderful and I have been able to keep in contact with and celebrate their child’s birthdays with them.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7500 E. Arapahoe Road, Suite 101
Centennial, CO 80112 - Website: www.nilmdts.org
- Phone: 720) 283-3339
- Email: gharris@nilmdts.org
Image Credit:
Renae Carr Retouching by Marti Wagner
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